Arsenal's win over Portsmouth had plenty of positives but Kai Havertz's cameo topped them all amongst Gabriel Martinelli's perfect response to Liverpool scrutiny
06:00, 12 Jan 2026
Kai Havertz made his return for Arsenal as Gabriel Martinelli scored a hat-trick against Portsmouth
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Kai Havertz made his return for Arsenal as Gabriel Martinelli scored a hat-trick against Portsmouth(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
There are very few teams in football who can make ten changes from their last Premier League match and field a side full of top-level talent, but that is exactly what Arsenal did in their 4-1 win over Portsmouth. What is perhaps even more impressive is that they managed to do so while several players were still missing.
Riccardo Calafiori, Piero Hincapie, Cristhian Mosquera and Max Dowman are still out and fighting to return to fitness, but these days Christian Norgaard offers Mikel Arteta welcome depth at centre-half.
I had some concerns when I saw the midfield three without a recognisable number six. Mikel Merino, Eberechi Eze and Ethan Nwaneri is an incredibly offensively minded midfield and perhaps that went some way to explaining why Pompey got joy in the early stages as the side worked itself out.
But Merino in particular had a wonderful performance overall, and if we thought he was an option in the number nine position, well, it turns out he’s also a defensive midfield option too. Giving the likes of Declan Rice and William Saliba a week off before the League Cup semi-final is truly brilliant, especially when you still win convincingly and it could, or maybe should, have been by more.
Noni Madueke had a mixed game, claiming two assists from corners and winning a penalty, but would miss the subsequent spot kick in rather embarrassing circumstances. Yet if we are to talk about one forward player, this was Gabriel Martinelli’s night.
The 24-year-old scored his first hat-trick for Arsenal In his 249th appearance for the club. It couldn’t have come at a better time, either, as the Portsmouth home crowd had clearly been made aware of his push on Conor Bradley against Liverpool.
The Reds confirmed that the full-back would miss the rest of the season with a serious knee injury, something Martinelli didn’t know at the time. Arteta was particularly grateful for how Arne Slot had defused much of the situation with his post-match comments, as he spoke to us after the match, pitchside at Fratton Park.
“It's part of football, and then it's how you take it,” Arteta said. “But he knew inside the reason why he did what he did.
“I think Arne Slot spoke brilliantly after the game, speaking of your opponent in the manner that he explained the situation and the fact that Gabi had no intention whatsoever to damage any player.
“And yeah, that's personality. Come in and talk on the pitch, which is the best part of it.”
Martinelli did exactly that and spoke on the pitch. It shows that despite the noise and scrutiny, some of which has been frankly over the top and almost just for the sake of it, the Gunners’ winger can focus on the football.
Gabriel Jesus started just his second game of the season, and like Madueke, he enjoyed a mixed game. Some stuff was good, like his pass to Martinelli for the third goal, and the drive forward and pass to Madueke, which led to the penalty being won.
Equally, there were times when he couldn’t find the right end product. That said, Arsenal produced over three expected goals for the second time that the centre-forward has started.
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(Image: Getty Images)
It is not about Viktor Gyokeres vs Gabriel Jesus, it is about the profile of a forward that best benefits the team and once again, the numbers do not lie. Yes, there were three goals from set pieces, but they’re won from the opportunities that the side creates in open play.
Kai Havertz returned from a long time out with injury to come off the bench and… I am excited. Every moment he had on the ball, something happened, and despite the volume of time out, it truly surprised me how sharp he already looks.
“Yeah, we had some great, positive things today,” Arteta said. “Obviously, winning the match and being in the next round.
“Kai, after so many months and all the effort that he's put in to be back fit and looking like he's done.”
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Next up is Chelsea in the League Cup semi-final, and Arteta has the chance to call on many of those who were rested. This is a hectic time for the club, but once again, they have responded to a difficult result, against Liverpool, with a convincing victory and welcomed back a potential game-changer for the second half of the season.
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