Arsenal continue to underline their ambition to compete for every available trophy this season, adding another convincing chapter to an already remarkable campaign. Leaders of the Premier League, winners of all six matches in the UEFA Champions League league phase, semi-finalists in the EFL Cup, the Gunners are now safely through to the Round of 32 of the FA Cup.

Progressing in the competition proved a straightforward task for Mikel Arteta’s side. Despite fielding a rotated lineup packed with players rarely seen in league or Champions League action, Arsenal swept aside Portsmouth with an emphatic 4-1 away victory.

The match exploded into life early. Colby Bishop gave Portsmouth a shock lead in the third minute, but the response was immediate. Just five minutes later, the hosts gifted Arsenal an equaliser, as Elliot Dozzell turned the ball into his own net. Jokes aside, “own goal” has been one of Arsenal’s most frequent scorers of late — but this time, the credit (or blame) clearly belonged to Dozzell.

Before half-time, Gabriel Martinelli restored order by firing Arsenal in front, capping off a dominant first-half display. The visitors could have stretched their advantage further when Noni Madueke stepped up from the penalty spot, but his effort was saved, keeping the tie briefly alive.

Any lingering doubt disappeared after the break. Martinelli took full control, adding two more goals to complete a clinical hat-trick and seal a commanding win for the Gunners.

2025-26, England - FA Cup

Portsmouth - Arsenal 1:4 (1:2)
Goals: Bishop C., 3 (1:0); Dozzell, 8 (own goal) (1:1); Martinelli, 25 (1:2); Martinelli, 51 (1:3); Martinelli, 72 (1:4)

Portsmouth: Bursik; Poole; Shaughnessy (Ogilvie, 62); Swanson Z. (Williams J-n, 73); Segecic (Swift, 73); Le Roux (Pack, 62); Dozzell; Devlin; Blair H. (Umeh-Chibueze, 40); Bishop C.; Chaplin
Substitution: Umeh-Chibueze (from 40); Ogilvie (from 62); Pack (from 62); Williams J-n (from 73); Swift (from 73)
Bench: Killip; Bowat; Farrell; Kirk M.
Yellow Cards: Le Roux 55

Arsenal: Arrizabalaga; White B. (Timber J., 69); Gabriel M. (Salmon, 76); Lewis-Skelly; Nørgaard; Eze; Merino; Madueke; Nwaneri (Odegaard, 69); Gabriel Jesus (Havertz, 69); Martinelli (Zubimendi, 82)
Substitution: Timber J. (from 69); Odegaard (from 69); Havertz (from 69); Salmon (from 76); Zubimendi (from 82)
Bench: Raya; Saka B.; Rice; Gyökeres
Yellow Cards: Lewis-Skelly 45; White B. 68