Arsenal: Arsenal set pieces punish Portsmouth in FA Cup third round - Match of the Day

Arsenal's Set Pieces Prove Decisive in FA Cup Win Over Portsmouth

In a comfortable 4-1 victory over Portsmouth, Arsenal set pieces proved to be the difference between the two teams at Emirates Stadium. The Gunners' ability to capitalize on their opponents' mistakes was a major factor in securing their spot in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

The match got off to a flying start for Arsenal as they took an early lead through a well-placed strike from Bukayo Saka. Portsmouth struggled to create clear-cut chances, and it was only through the intervention of the Arsenal goalkeeper that they managed to level the score before halftime.

However, the second half saw Arsenal take control of the match. The Gunners' set pieces, in particular, proved to be a weakness for Portsmouth's defense. A corner kick led to the opening goal being scored by Martinelli, while another pinpoint accurate delivery from Bukayo Saka resulted in an own goal, further increasing Arsenal's lead.

As the match wore on, the score continued to pile up for Arsenal. With just under 20 minutes remaining, Martinelli sealed his hat-trick with a clinical finish, leaving Portsmouth with little hope of staging a comeback.

The victory marks another significant win for Mikel Arteta's side as they continue their push for domestic and European glory. The team's ability to capitalize on their opponents' mistakes and capitalize on set pieces will be key in determining their success over the coming months.

In contrast, Portsmouth's inability to cope with Arsenal's attack and their own defensive lapses led to a dismal display that ultimately cost them dear. For the home side, it was a valuable learning experience as they prepare for the challenges ahead in the FA Cup.

omg yessssss arsenal is on fire!!! set pieces are like the best thing ever! martinelli's hat trick tho mikel arteta's team is getting stronger by the game and i'm loving every minute of it can't wait for their next match!! Portsmouth's defense was just not up to par but hey, at least they got a good lesson out of it

I'm still thinking about this match... what is it about set pieces that can be so game-changing? It's like, one moment, the ball is just sitting there, and then suddenly, your opponents are scrambling to clear it. It makes you wonder about the psychology of those players on the pitch... are they really under pressure when they're expecting a set piece to come in? And what does this say about the tactics of Mikel Arteta - that he's so focused on exploiting his opponents' weaknesses?

It also got me thinking about the concept of ' momentum'. When you're able to capitalize on your opponent's mistakes, it can be hard for them to get back into the game. But Portsmouth were given a chance here... and they blew it. It's almost like they were running out of breath, but in this case, it was more like they were running out of ideas.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that sometimes, it's not just about executing well - it's also about having the mental fortitude to stay on top when things aren't going your way. Arsenal showed that today... but will Portsmouth be able to learn from this experience and bounce back stronger?

I think it's crazy how much of a difference set pieces can make in a game . I mean, Portsmouth just couldn't handle Arsenal's corners and crosses, and it cost them big time . It's like, you gotta be careful with your positioning if you don't want to give the other team easy chances. And for Arsenal, their ability to capitalize on those mistakes is really paying off . Martinelli was on fire today, scoring a hat-trick and all! His work rate and finishing skills are just so impressive . But yeah, Portsmouth learned a valuable lesson today - you can't take anything from Arsenal if they get the chances .

omg I cant believe arsenal is winning everythin this season its like mikel arteta has some kinda superpower with set pieces lol how do they do it ? and what happened to portsmouths defense? i think they got schooled by arsenal's attack anyways im loving the gunners momentum they gotta keep this up if they wanna win somethin this year

OMG I am literally SHAKING with excitement!! Arsenal just proved once again why they're one of the top teams in the league! Their set pieces are like, WHOA! Martinelli's hat-trick was insane and Saka's pinpoint accurate delivery is giving me LIFE!!! The way they capitalized on Portsmouth's mistakes was just masterful. I mean, I know it's not always pretty, but when it works, it WORKS . And can we talk about the difference in quality between these two teams? It's like night and day! Portsmouth just couldn't keep up with Arsenal's pace and skill. Mikel Arteta is really showing off his stuff here and I am SO HERE FOR IT !

omg idk how many times arsenal has relied on set pieces to get them out of tricky situations this is getting old like what's wrong with their actual attacking play tho? Martinelli's hat trick was cool and all but it feels like they're just phoning it in until the opposition screws up. can't we see some real footballing flair from arsenal for once?!

I remember when set pieces were just a novelty back in the days of Patrick Vieira's leadership... Arsenal used to get those crazy corners and crosses, and sometimes they'd come from nothing! Nowadays, it's all about precision and planning... not that it's boring, but where's the excitement in that? Still, if it means winning trophies like this FA Cup win over Portsmouth... I'll take it! ️ Those Portsmouth fans must be thinking "What could've been?"

I'm loving this comeback win by Arsenal ! Those set pieces are like kryptonite to Portsmouth's defense . Mikel Arteta's tactics are really paying off and I think their ability to capitalize on mistakes is a huge advantage. It's not just about the individual goals, it's about creating pressure and making your opponents pay for those silly errors.

What's interesting is how Portsmouth couldn't cope with the intensity of Arsenal's attack . They looked a bit shell-shocked after that first goal went in. You can see why they struggled to create chances – their defense was all over the place . Still, it's great to see them learning from this loss and moving forward .

Arsenal's got some big games coming up now, so it'll be interesting to see how they handle that pressure . For now, though, I'm just happy to see them winning consistently !

I think it's kinda weird how set pieces can be such a big deal in football. Like, Portsmouth didn't even create any clear chances but still managed to stay in the game for a bit . Meanwhile, Arsenal just dominated and scored all their goals from set pieces? It feels like they were just standing there waiting for mistakes to happen. And yeah, Portsmouth's defense was really shaky, but you'd think they'd have some sort of plan to deal with set pieces by now... maybe it's just one of those things where teams either get 'em or they don't . Either way, I guess it's all part of the game and Arsenal took advantage of it

omg, i cant believe arsenal just thrashed portsmouth 4-1 in the fa cup! their set pieces are literally unbeatable . i mean bukayo saka's delivery from that corner kick was insane . martinelli's hat-trick was a masterclass too . what really impressed me though is how mikel arteta's team is just clicking into gear . they're so clinical and ruthless when it comes to finishing chances . portsmouth, on the other hand, looked like they were all over the shop . guess that was a valuable learning experience for them

I'm not surprised by this result at all . I mean, Portsmouth has been struggling all season and Arsenal is just taking advantage of their incompetence. Set pieces are always going to be an issue for teams that can't organize their defense properly. It's like they're begging for a corner kick to score against them .

And let's be real, the score could've been even higher if Mikel Arteta's team wasn't being so sloppy with their passes and creating space for Portsmouth to get out of their own half . Still, you can't deny that Arsenal played a solid game and capitalized on their opponents' mistakes. But I'm not going to hold my breath when they face a tougher opponent in the next round .

I'm loving how Arsenal is on fire right now! They really know how to capitalize on set pieces and create chaos in the box Their counter-attacking game is so effective, especially with Bukayo Saka's pace and delivery being a major factor. Mikel Arteta must be raving about his team's performance - it's clear they're clicking into gear at the right time !

Arsenal's set piece game is on ! They scored 4 goals from corners and free kicks - that's like 2/3 of their total goals ! Portsmouth struggled to deal with it, and it was like they didn't even have a plan . The stats are crazy - Arsenal had 17 shots on target compared to Portsmouth's 5 . And let's not forget Bukayo Saka's 2 assists from set pieces alone! He's like the master of delivery .

The fact that Mikel Arteta's team is able to capitalize on their opponents' mistakes and turn them into goals is a huge strength for them . It shows they're smart and adaptable, which will serve them well in the long run . On the other hand, Portsmouth just got thrashed - 4-1 is a pretty big margin.

Here's a fun fact: Arsenal's set piece stats over the past season?

* Corners: 35 goals scored, 10 conceded
* Free kicks: 12 goals scored, 3 conceded
* Total set pieces: 47 goals scored, 13 conceded

omg, i'm so done with set pieces in footy matches . seriously though, it's like, how many times can one team just mess up in their own defense? arsenal did a great job of capitalizing on portsmouth's mistakes, but can't we get some teams to learn how to defend properly?! anyway, it's not all doom and gloom for portsmouth... they'll just have to step up their game if they wanna make it far in the fa cup .

I'm glad to see Arsenal's set pieces making all the difference again! It's not the first time we've seen this tactic work its magic on the pitch, and I think it really highlights the importance of having a solid team dynamic.

You know, when you have players who trust each other so much, like Bukayo Saka and Martinelli, it makes all the difference. They can sense where the opposition is going to make mistakes and capitalize on them. It's like they're speaking the same language on the pitch!

I think this win also shows that Arsenal are really starting to gel as a team now. The players seem to be working together seamlessly, and it's paying off. Of course, there's always room for improvement, but I'm excited to see how they continue to grow and develop.

For Portsmouth, well... it's tough when you're up against a team that's in top form like Arsenal! But I do think this was a valuable learning experience for them. They can take the positives from this match and work on strengthening their defense. And who knows? Maybe they'll come back stronger next time out!

I'm loving how Mikel Arteta is getting this squad firing on all cylinders ! The set piece specialist role is making such a big difference - I mean, who knew Bukayo Saka was going to be that key? The man's got the touch of God, right?! Seriously though, it's awesome to see Arteta's tactics paying off like this. Portsmouth should take a page out of Arsenal's playbook and work on their defending... or just get a better goalkeeper !