In a thrilling FA Cup third-round encounter, Premier League leaders Arsenal showcased their class with a commanding 4-1 victory away at Championship side Portsmouth on Sunday, January 11, 2026. The star of the show was Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli, who netted his first-ever hat-trick for the club.
Early Shock and Swift Response
The match at Fratton Park began with a stunning upset in the making. Colby Bishop sent the home crowd into raptures by putting Portsmouth ahead within just three minutes of kick-off. The second-tier side had dreamt of a giant-killing act against the top-flight leaders. However, Arsenal's response was immediate and decisive. The visitors' equaliser came just five minutes later, albeit in unfortunate fashion for Portsmouth, as Andre Dozzell scored an own goal to level the score and settle Arsenal's nerves.
Martinelli Takes Centre Stage
With the momentum restored, Arsenal began to dominate proceedings. The talismanic Gabriel Martinelli put the Gunners in front in the 25th minute with a clever, flicked header. After the break, he doubled his and Arsenal's tally just six minutes into the second half, sliding in to finish a move. He completed his magnificent treble in the 72nd minute with another powerful header, sealing a memorable personal and team performance. This marked Martinelli's first hat-trick in an Arsenal shirt.
The victory margin could have been even wider had Noni Madueke converted a penalty kick awarded to Arsenal during the first half, but his effort was unsuccessful.
Arteta's Men Eye Historic Treble
This convincing win keeps Arsenal firmly in the hunt for silverware on multiple fronts. The club, record 14-time FA Cup winners, last lifted the trophy in 2020 under manager Mikel Arteta. That triumph remains the last major honour for the North London outfit. This result against Portsmouth successfully maintains their ambitious three-pronged pursuit of trophies this season, which includes the Premier League title and the UEFA Champions League alongside the FA Cup.
In other FA Cup action from the day, Leeds United also recovered from a goal down to beat Derby County 3-1. There was a major upset as third-tier Mansfield Town edged past Championship club Sheffield United 4-3, while Norwich City enjoyed a 5-1 rout of Walsall, featuring a hat-trick from Jovon Makama.
