Martinelli Masterclass: Arsenal's Hat-Trick Sends Portsmouth Packing in the FA Cup
11 January 2026
Arsenal's Hat-Trick Hero Shines in Cup Clash
Gabriel Martinelli propelled Arsenal to a 4-1 FA Cup triumph away at Portsmouth on Sunday, as the third round unfolded with drama and a healthy dose of Premier League quality.
In a performance that will be remembered for a while, the Brazilian winger struck a hat-trick, overturning a first-half deficit and sealing the win for the Gunners.
According to Opta, this is Martinelli's first hat-trick in an Arsenal shirt, coming in his 249th appearance for the club.
The victory also marks the first Arsenal hat-trick in the FA Cup since January 2017, when Theo Walcott did the honors against Southampton nine years ago.
Two of Martinelli's goals came from headers, directed from crosses delivered by Noni Madueke at the near post, showing Arsenal's growing strength from set-pieces.
For the first time this season, Arsenal managed three goals from corners in a single match, a glimpse of the weaponized repetition they've been sharpening in recent campaigns.
Punchline: If goals counted as coins, Martinelli just paid off Arsenal's debt to the Cup with interest.
Punchline: And when corners swing in, Martinelli's head clearly has a passport, because it keeps returning to the back of the net.
