Morning all.
Gabriel Martinelli had spent the last few days being treated as if he was some kind of dastardly criminal by the usual suspects, you know the low-grade TV pundits whose ‘unblemished records’ gave them the freedom and latitude to attack Gabby for his singular error of judgement in the Liverpool game and therefore encouraging a pile on by other low-grade media outlets looking for clicks. All the while, and despite the high class comments post match from Liverpool manager Slot who put everything into perspective in a professional way, was obviously ignored by the trouble makers. Anybody would have thought that Martinelli was some kind of a property developer who had torn down an England flag put up by his workers on one of his sites such was the outrage.
Nethertheless, Mikel Arteta put Gabby into his starting XI at Fratton Park yesterday, one of ten changes from his last team selection. Merino sat in front of a makeshift back-four with King Gabriel and Norgaard playing alongside Ben White and Myles Lewis-Skelly. Pompey by comparison were in all kinds of trouble with injuries and with a team falling hard towards the bottom of their division. A walkover then?
For Portsmouth, the visit of Arsenal was a kind of a relief. Fratton Park was full and rocking, no pressure lads just go out and give it 100%, which is exactly what they did.
Arsenal were a team without rhythm despite its talents, of course they were, they might train together but as a team it was a new experience – and if you aren’t on your guard you can become a tad complacent and get caught out.
After only three minutes and with Portsmouth pressing as if their lives depended on it, Arsenal were playing out from the back and looking in control. That was until the ball was fed out to Madueke on the right wing. He casually took the ball but was quickly dispossessed and within the blink of an eye the ball was being crossed into the Arsenal penalty area where a snap shot looked goal-bound. Kepa did well to react and save but his clearance lacked distance and a Portsmouth player followed up to score. That set the pattern for the game from then on, because Portsmouth kept going until the final minute, credit to them.
Apparently Portsmouth have the worst record (thankfully) for defending set pieces and that saved our bacon because the Gunners created some pretty good attacking phases but slack and casual approach play saw pretty much all of them wasted. 5 minutes following the opening goal and 5 minutes of Pompey chimes that followed, Arsenal were awarded a corner. Eze chipped a devastating cross into the box and amid the flailing legs and arms the ball ended in the Pompey net. Initially I thought Norgaard had put it into the back of the net, but it turned out to be our new January signing Owngoalinho who had turned it over the line.
The goal took some of the atmosphere out of Fratton Park but the home team still put in the effort and no Arsenal defender could ponder too long on the ball. It was fairly end to end fare with a lot of half-chances not taken until Big Gabby lifted a telling forward pass to Eze on 24 who found Jesus, but he effort was saved. A minute later on Madueke, who can put in a mean corner almost of Sakaesque proportions drove one onto the head of Martinelli and he skilfully flicked it home. Two corners, two goals, it seemed like a plan…
With half an hour gone, a 1-0 deficit turned into a 2-1 lead as it seemed that the Gunners had weathered the storm. On 31 Martinelli took a pot shot from distance which swung just wide of the goal then on 37 Kepa, who had settled into his job after a few skittish moments found Ethan who surged into some midfield space, his pass found Jesus who switched it across to Madueke but his shot was blocked. On 41 Noni again had a chance to score as White and Jesus set him up with almost an open goal but he somehow contrived to miss the ball before Martinelli’s strike hit the post.
Finally on 42 Madueke got free in the box but before he could cross, Zak Swanson remembered that he was once an Arsenal player and brought Noni down, penalty.
I’m generally not in favour of the guy who is fouled for the penalty taking it but Noni was up and grabbed the ball. He then confidently sent the goalkeeping sprawling the wrong way whilst he put the ball in the opposite direction, unfortunately he put it wide of the goal and looked a proper Charlie. Half-Time 1-2
Arteta made no changes at half-time clearly with one eye on Stamford Bridge next Wednesday and on 51 the game was pretty much over. Noni was fouled and whilst the Portsmouth players lost concentration for a moment, Myles took the free kick quickly to Jesus who fired a low diagonal cross to Martinelli on the far post who tapped home to make it 1-3.
Then on 60 minutes Martinelli met another Madueke corner but his header flew over. The game settled into a pattern of Arsenal avoiding too many crunching challenges as Portsmouth made a few changes to try to up the tempo again. On 69 Arteta took off Jesus, Nwaneri and White who was on a yellow for Havertz, Odegaard and Timber. Timber immediately shut off the last vestige of a Pompey threat whilst Odegaard slowed it down and Havertz looked his elegant best.
On 71 Madueke had another good opportunity saved but from his corner a minute later Martinelli headed his hat-trick goal, his first for the club, and that was that. Havertz and Timber were tormenting the tiring Pompey players then on 76 Marli Salmon replaced Gabriel, becoming the youngest player to appear for Arsenal in the FA Cup at 16, but some still accuse Arteta of not giving youth a chance!
On 78 Kepa made a good one handed save from a Portsmouth snap shot therefore saving us from anymore last minute nerves. Salmon then slid into a perfectly timed sliding challenge that had me nodding in approval, the kids alright. On 82 minutes Martinelli left the field to be replaced by Zubimendi and seconds later following a good run by Odegaard, Eze fired in a good shot that the keeper did well to palm out for a corner. From then on it was a case of managing the closing minutes and being grateful that we weren’t one of the 3rd round shocks.
We march on…
By Kev.