Manchester, Jan 11: Gabriel Martinelli scored a hat trick as Arsenal advanced to the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 4-1 win at Portsmouth on Sunday.
The Premier League leader came back from going a goal down to the second tier Championship team inside three minutes.
Colby Bishop stunned Arsenal with the opening goal at Fratton Park, but the lead only lasted five minutes when Andre Dozzell scored an own goal. Martinelli put the visitors ahead in the 25th and struck twice in the second half.Leeds was also behind to Championship opposition, but recovered from 1-0 down to beat Derby 3-1 at Pride Park.
Third-tier Mansfield pulled off an upset to beat Championship side Sheffield United 4-3 and Norwich routed Walsall 5-1. As the dust settled, one thing became abundantly clear: the magic of the Cup, with its blend of giant-killing shocks and commanding performances from the elite, remains as irresistible as ever. Arsenal, despite a brief scare at Fratton Park, demonstrated why they sit atop the Premier League, turning a momentary deficit into a showcase of attacking brilliance, led by Gabriel Martinelli’s clinical finishing and unerring instinct in front of goal.
Meanwhile, Leeds’ determined response against Derby underscored the resilience and depth present even in sides facing lower-league opposition, proving that no lead should ever be taken for granted.
Yet it wasn’t all predictable dominance; Mansfield’s remarkable victory over Sheffield United served as a reminder that the FA Cup continues to thrive on the romance of the underdog, where dreams of glory can materialize in the most improbable of circumstances.
From Norwich’s emphatic demolition of Walsall to the tension and drama at Pride Park, the weekend encapsulated everything fans love about knockout football. (AP)
