Coach Mikel Arteta: 'Arsenal gave their opponents hope and then extinguished it'

Coach Mikel Arteta was pleased with Arsenal’s determination and their ability to recover after the break, leading to a 4-1 comeback victory over Portsmouth to advance to the FA Cup round 4.

On the evening of January 11 (Vietnam time), Mikel Arteta shared his contentment with how Arsenal overcame the challenge at Fratton Park, after coming from behind to defeat Portsmouth 4-1to earn their spot in the FA Cup fourth round.

The Gunners faced early difficulties when Colby Bishop scored at the start, boosting the home team’s momentum. However, Arsenal quickly regained control. An own goal by Andre Dozzell leveled the score before Gabriel Martinelli shone brilliantly with a hat-trick, sealing a convincing comeback. Notably, Noni Madueke missed a penalty in the first half.

After the match, Arteta admitted Arsenal did not start as planned: “We began exactly how we didn’t want to, giving them hope and motivation with an early goal conceded. But then the team turned things around, took better control, created chances from set pieces, and crushed Portsmouth’s confidence. There are positives, but also many areas to improve.”

The Spanish coach highlighted encouraging signs despite heavy squad rotation: “We made 10 changes, so cohesion and rhythm weren’t perfect yet. Still, Kai Havertz’s return, Marli Salmon’s debut, and Martinelli’s special hat-trick were all bright spots.”

Arteta also revealed key tactical adjustments made during halftime: “Technically, we weren’t meeting expectations, especially in escaping pressure. At this level, basics must be better. We changed the structure to gain more time and options, and once we achieved that, they struggled.”

Speaking about the special nature of the FA Cup, Arteta emphasized: “Giant-killing is part of the tournament’s history. Beyond advancing, it’s about the reputation of the players and club. You have to approach games with that mindset at venues like this.”

Finally, when asked about Martinelli’s reaction after a challenging week, Arteta praised his understanding perspective, stressing respect and empathy in football, and firmly denied any disrespectful intentions toward the player.