Martinelli rises to the challenge with hat-trick after early alarm

Gabriel Martinelli ended Arsenal's last game as public enemy No 1 with Liverpool fans and Gary Neville after his clash with Conor Bradley.

- Ed Aarons

But the Brazilian was his team's saviour against Portsmouth, after the Championship side had threatened briefly to record their first win against the Premier League leaders in 23 attempts after Colby Bishop's early strike.

Martinelli's first senior hat-trick included two almost identical headers from corners after an own goal from Andre Dozzell had drawn them level following - you guessed it - another corner. That takes Arsenal's tally from set-pieces this season to 17 and one wonders where they would be without them. Yet such is their proficiency under Nicolas Jover these days that Mikel Arteta can virtually rely on at least one bearing fruit.

"Yesterday, he was talking about it," the manager said of Martinelli. "His timing in the box is really good, especially when he attacks the space."

The travelling supporters ended the game aiming taunts against Neville after the Sky Sports pundit had described Martinelli as "an idiot" for attempting to remove Bradley from the pitch as Arsenal chased a winner against Liverpool. But Arteta praised his Liverpool counterpart, Arne Slot, for his understanding and credited Martinelli for showing "personality".