Arsenal briefly put their Premier League focus on hold to take care of FA Cup business, cruising to a convincing 4-1 victory over Portsmouth at Fratton Park to secure a place in the fourth round.
While the result itself was straightforward, the night carried extra significance for several Arsenal players. Kai Havertz continued his strong return to form, while Gabriel Martinelli stole the headlines with an emphatic hat-trick — a timely response after a difficult week in the spotlight.
Martinelli Responds After Tough Liverpool Fallout
Martinelli’s performance came just days after controversy surrounded his late clash with Liverpool defender Conor Bradley during Arsenal’s 0-0 draw at the Emirates. The incident drew heavy criticism, particularly after it was confirmed that Bradley would miss the rest of the season through injury.
Despite the noise, the Brazilian winger delivered the perfect on-pitch answer. Speaking after the Portsmouth win, Mikel Arteta acknowledged both the pressure Martinelli had faced and the maturity he showed in responding.
“It’s part of football — it’s about how you react,” Arteta said.
“He knows inside why he did what he did, and the important thing is how he moves forward.”
Arteta Salutes Arne Slot’s Classy Intervention
Arteta also took time to commend Liverpool manager Arne Slot for the way he publicly handled the situation, describing his comments as “brilliant.”
“I think Arne Slot spoke brilliantly after the game,” Arteta explained.
“He spoke about the opponent with respect and made it clear that Gabi had no intention of hurting anyone. That shows personality. Those conversations should happen on the pitch, and that’s the best part of football.”
Slot had earlier defended Martinelli, stressing that the Arsenal winger showed no malice and was reacting to what he believed was time-wasting late in the match.
“I don’t know Gabriel Martinelli personally, but he seems like a good guy,” Slot said.
“I’m 100% sure that if he knew the injury could be that serious, he wouldn’t have done it.”
“That’s Just Gabi” – Arteta Delighted With Attitude
After putting the controversy to one side, Arteta focused on what mattered most: Martinelli’s mindset and work ethic.
“I love it,” the Arsenal boss said.
“In every situation — whether he plays or doesn’t, whether he scores or not — he gives everything. Today he scored three goals. Tomorrow he’ll train at 100 miles an hour. That’s just Gabi.”
The Portsmouth hat-trick capped a challenging week with a reminder of why Martinelli remains such a valued figure in Arteta’s squad — resilient, relentless, and always ready to respond the right way.
