Sokratis pounces to set the Gunners on a smooth path
PORTSMOUTH: Bass, McCrorie, Bolton, Burgess, Seddon, Close, McGeehan, Williams, Evans (Cannon 74), Harness (Curtis 67), Harrison (Marquis 67).
Subs not used: MacGillivray, Naylor, Whatmough, Raggett.
ARSENAL: Martinez, Sokratis, Luiz, Mari, Saka, Guendouzi, Torreira (Ceballos 16), Nelson (Maitland-Niles 90), Willock (Xhaka 87), Martinelli, Nketiah.
Subs not used: Leno, Lacazette, Holding, Pepe.
Man of the match: Luiz
Match rating: 6/10
Referee: Mike Dean
ARSENAL secured safe passage into the sixth round of the FA Cup as they overcame a spirited Portsmouth side at a raucous Fratton Park.
The League One hosts are unbeaten at home in the league this season and more than played their part in an entertaining Cup tie, with the Gunners eventually running out 2-0 winners.
Kenny Jackett’s side had the better of the first half, only for Sokratis Papastathopoulos to brilliantly volley Arsenal ahead, with Eddie Nketiah doubling the lead soon after the break.
For Arsenal and head coach Mikel Arteta, who made nine changes including resting captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, this was a good response to crashing out of the Europa League.
While the travelling fans sang about their 49 games unbeaten in the wake of Liverpool’s 44-match streak ending at the weekend, adding to their record 13 FA Cup wins remains their only chance of silverware.
David Luiz was captaining Arsenal but he and debutant Pablo Mari were caught out by a simple ball forward, the latter eventually blocking Ellis Harrison’s shot.
Sokratis was the next Arsenal defender to be left flummoxed, the Greece international operating at right-back and getting turned too easily by Marcus Harness as the hosts looked to take the game to their visitors.
Arsenal’s somewhat slow start was not helped when Lucas Torreira was floored by a strong challenge from James Bolton which resulted in the midfielder being taken off on a stretcher to be replaced by Dani Ceballos.
The Gunners finally forced Alex Bass into action as Bukayo Saka burst down the left and shot low at the Pompey keeper before Harness had an effort deflected behind at the other end.
Arsenal bemoaned a missed header as Gabriel Martinelli could only steer Reiss Nelson’s flashed cross over as the first half looked set to end goalless.
That changed in the fourth minute of added-on time as an Arsenal corner was cleared to Ceballos, who played in Nelson to cross for Sokratis to turn home with a fine volley.
Arsenal were much faster out of the traps for the second half and doubled their advantage soon after the restart, Nketiah finishing well from close-range.
England U21 international Nelson was enjoying himself and broke through to see a shot blocked behind before Saka had a strike tipped over.
They could not add to their lead, Andy Cannon coming closest as Portsmouth searched for a consolation in the closing stages.
With the strength of the opposition still left, it is unlikely Arteta will be afforded the luxury of making sweeping changes next time out.
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