The magic of the FA Cup often relies on the "giant-killing" narrative, but Arsenal made sure there was no such story at Fratton Park. Despite falling behind to a Colby Bishop goal inside three minutes—which sent the home crowd into a frenzy—the Gunners roared back to win 4-1 with professional ruthlessness.
The Martinelli Show 🇧🇷
Gabriel Martinelli was unstoppable, netting his first-ever hat-trick for the club. He leveled the score with a clever flicked header from a set-piece before half-time. In the second half, he turned the game into his personal playground, finishing two pinpoint crosses with the kind of clinical edge that has defined his season.
A Welcome Return
The biggest cheer of the night, however, might have been for Kai Havertz, who made his long-term return from injury as a second-half substitute. His presence immediately added a different dimension to the attack, linking up play with ease. As Mikel Merino noted:
"Having Kai back makes the squad one more asset in this four-competition chase. It’s a massive boost for everyone, and you can see the lift it gives the boys just having him on the pitch."