Result: Portsmouth 0-2 Arsenal
Date: 02 March 2020
Venue: Fratton Park
Arsenal became the first side to advance to the Emirates FA Cup quarter-finals following a 2-0 win over third-tier outfit Portsmouth on Monday evening.
Pablo Mari Villar got to make his debut for the London side, who also welcomed back David Luiz and Eddie Nketiah in defence and attack.
Arsenal were given a rude awakening following the earlier exchanges after Pompey's fiery start dropped Mikel Arteta's men into their own half-unable to get out.
A nasty bone-crunching challenge on Lucas Torreira 15 minutes gone brought the Uruguayan's evening to a close, with Dani Ceballos brought on as his replacement.
Momentum switched as Gabriel Martinelli failed to give the Gunners the lead with a looping header from a cross going over the top with the goal gaping following the half-hour mark.
The Gunners left it until the final minute of the half as Sokratis Papastathopoulos volleyed Reiss Nelson's cross into the near corner for a 1-0 lead.
Nketiah got inside the six-yard box to put his side two goals up with a thumping finish from the near post four minutes after halftime following Nelson's inch-perfect cross from the right side.
Pompey were now left with an uphill battle to book a quarter-final ticket for the first time since the 2009/10 edition-having won this competition twice before.
Quick feet from Bukayo Saka on the left-inside channel ended with a snap-shot which Alex Bass tipped for a corner in the last 14 minutes.
The Gunners looked for a strong finish in the remaining minutes whilst Pompey threatened a comeback, but 2-0 was the final score with former cruising into the last eight.
