ARSENAL done what they had to and ground out a 2-0 victory over Portsmouth at Fratton Park to send them through to the FA Cup quarter-final.
Pompey exploded out the blocks and had several chances in the first 15 but as the half wore on the Gunners had more of the ball and their pressure eventually bore fruit when Sokratis slammed home Reiss Nelson’s cross on the stroke of half-time.
Reiss Nelson was Arsenals man-of-the-match against PortsmouthCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Eddie Nketiah wrapped up the win early in the second-halfCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Lucas Torreira was stretchered off with an ankle after just 17 minutes thanks to a firm but fair James Bolton challenge and Mikel Arteta will hope the damage was not as bad as it first seemed.
Arsenal put the tie to bed straight after the break when Eddie Nketiah latched on the end of another Nelson cross and after a fortunate bounce off Bolton, the ball dropped kindly for the striker and he poked it home from barely a yard.
Arsenal killed the game in a professional manner to seal the win and here’s what SunSport’s William Pugh thought of the Gunners’ individual performances.
EMILIANO MARTINEZ – 6
Put under pressure by the hosts early on but stood up to the test fairly well.
Barely had a save to make from then on.
SOKRATIS – 7
Seemed jaded by Pompey’s electric start.
But made amends with an emphatic finish to give his side a fairly fortunate lead right at the end of the first-half.
Relatively unchallenged in the second 45.
DAVID LUIZ – 7
Slouched his way into the game and looked like he did not fancy it in the early stages.
Mazy run to the edge of Pompey’s box on 40 minutes saw him play Nketiah in but the striker put it wide.
Finished the game off in a professional manner befitting the captain for the night.
PABLO MARI – 6
Solid debut, nothing spectacular.
Would have had a debut goal in the second-half if it wasn’t for an almighty air-shot in Pompey’s box.
BUKAYO SAKA – 6
Virtually non-existent before the break.
Screamed at by Arteta for a weak challenge that nearly let Portsmouth in just after half-time.
But came to life a bit in the second-half once the game was won.
MATTEO GUENDOUZI – 5
Booked for a sarcastic gesture in the first-half which seemed to be the most effort he put into anything before the break.
Looked like he did not want to be there but stepped it up slightly in the second-half as Arsenal wrapped the game up in professional fashion.
Lucas Torreira was stretchered off on just 17 minutes after a strong James Bolton challengeCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Mike Dean booked Matteo Guendouzi for sarcasm in the first-halfCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Guendouzi slammed the ball down after Dean asked him to stop the ball moving before taking a free-kickCredit: Rex Features
Lucas Torreira limps out of Fratton Park after Arsenal beat Portsmouth in the FA Cup
LUCAS TORREIRA (subbed off, 17 mins) – 5
Had no time to make an impact.
Stretchered off with a serious looking ankle injury after Bolton’s strong slide tackle inside the first 20 minutes.
Was checked in an on-site ambulance but post-game reports suggest it was not as bad as first feared.
REISS NELSON (subbed off, 90 mins) – 8
Man-of-the-match.
Carved some space for a cross on the half-hour mark but hit it too far behind Martinelli who could only head over.
Redeemed himself by whipping in a ferocious ball for Sokratis’ opener and did the same again for Nketiah’s goal just six minutes after the break.
Solid evening for the 20-year-old.
JOE WILLOCK (subbed off, 86 mins) – 5
Sloppy performance on the ball saw Arsenal barely threaten through the middle with him in the number ten position.
Worked fairly hard but has far more quality than he showed tonight.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 6
One of few Arsenal players to start the game brightly.
Tried to make something happen down the left early on.
Kept himself busy throughout but with little end product.
Nketiah stabbed home from close range after another Nelson crossCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
EDDIE NKETIAH – 7
Couple of chances in the first-half but made nothing of them.
Got fortunate for his goal after it fell nicely after Bolton’s block but he had to be in the right position to put it in.
SUBS
DANI CEBALLOS (replaced Torreira) – 7
Efficient performance having replaced the injured Torreria early on.
AINSLEY MAITLAND-NILES (replaced Nelson) – 5
No time to make an impact.
GRANIT XHAKA (replaced Willock) – 5
No time to make an impact.
Sokratis gave Arsenal a barely deserved lead right on the stroke of half-timeCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Sokratis scored the first for the visitorsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
