Gabriel Martinelli scored a hat-trick as Premier League leaders Arsenal cruised into the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 4-1 defeat of Portsmouth on Sunday.
Colby Bishop fired the struggling Championship side into a third minute lead at Fratton Park but a an own-goal from Andre Dozzell levelled matters after eight minutes.
Martinelli then fired in on 25 minutes and added two more goals in the second half (51′, 72′) to secure a convincing win
Pompey started the tie on the front foot and had a good chance to score even before Bishop hit the back of the net with a fine shot from inside the penalty area.
Dozzell was then unfortunate to turn an Eberechi Eze corner into his own net as Arsenal looked for as response.
Seemingly unfazed by the temporary set-back, the home team continue to press forward and were close again when Harvey Blair forced Gunners stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga to tip away an effort on target.
But it was Arsenal to strike next, from another set-piece, this time a 25th minute corner sung in by Noni Madueke that Martinelli finished at the front post.
Arsenal should have scored on the half hour mark, but Martinelli was just inches wide with a curler, after being set through on goal by Eze.
The home side were dealt a blow when their most threatening attacker, Blair, had to be withdrawn through injury, but were given some home when Madueke missed a penalty in the dying minutes of the first half.
Buoyed by only being one goal down, it was Portsmouth who again started brightly, with Adrian Segecic forcing Ben White into a good early block.
But despite all their bluster, Pompey couldn’t find a way through the Gunners’ defence while being guilty of some ineffective defending from set-pieces.
A quick Myles Lewis-Skelly free-kick was switched out wide to Gabriel Jesus, whose low cross was expertly steered home by Martinelli at the far post.
And Martinelli completed his first career hat-trick by leaping highest at the near post to flick home a vicious corner from Madueke.
Arsenal’s set-piece prowess wasn’t a secret heading into this game, but Portsmouth will be disappointed with the manner of their exit.
With the match already won, the Gunners handed a debut to 16-year-old Marli Salmon, making him the youngest player to represent Arsenal in the FA Cup.
