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 Sky Bet 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 four nights ago.
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 this season.
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 behind.
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 top-flight 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.