I think people need to get away from the ‘win the ball’ argument for overly aggressive tackles. The tackle on Torreira was a scissor follow through with excessive force, just because he won the ball first doesn’t mean it can’t be punished. The rules are there to protect players, players have a responsibility to each other even after they win the ball. Far too many players in the English game see a 70/30 tackle as an opportunity to give their opponent a damn good whack sure in the knowledge that winning the ball will save them any punishment

Super goal. Nelson, finished off by Nketiah. Nice.

Qualideeee....

Well done reiss

Eddie 2-0
Great play from Nelson. As I said at half time, get the ball to him quicker and get him 1v1 with a bit of space behind and he’s miles to quick for the full back. Just breezed last him and put in a good ball

Lovely cross, sweet finish

An AG esque goal. Not the best game we have had but I will take the goals.

That should be that.

Jeez that was a sharp finish. Using the other leg at the very last moment when I thought the chance was gone. A lot more life and getting some decent balls across in this half. So basically most of these players were not good enough the other night. At least they are trying.

???

Mari is a ‘project’.

Bot malfunction

I like the look of him.

It’s encouraging that he is vocally organising his fellow defenders.

According to Jermaine Jenas Portsmouth didn’t get the reward that they deserved in the first half hour.

I would disagree. Given that they had zero shots on target they got exactly what they deserved.

In fact they’ve still not had a shot on target.

He can jog on.

Jermaine Penus is such a wally. You’d have thought Pompey were bombarding us the way he was carrying on

That was great from Saka

Thoughts on Mari? Looks composed and comfortable but it is Portsmouth.

A good start, as you say though not very demanding opposition.

Was there no other player available than Xhaka to come on. Maybe a young player for a few minutes. I shake my head

Pépé ?

We’re all desperately hoping that there’s a quality centre back there. We sure need one.

We just to miss that bit of guile to open up teams. That final ball

AMN either would do. But instead Xhaka gets another appearance bonus.

Well we do have official sponsors of Ovaltine and Mogodon.

Another goal or two would have been nice. We've passed them to death second half.

AMN on in the 90th minute. We are 2-0 up. What is the point?

74% possession.

Arteta doesn't fancy Ainsley much, does he.

Decent result. We need to try and be more direct from central positions though

Ha ha. Nice one Martin Keown. Just slipped in the fact that Arsenal went a whole league season unbeaten. What a star.

After a slow start some good performances from the younger or newer players. Some will say it was only Portsmouth but then again some well paid players at the club only had to play Olympiocas the other night and we were already leading 1-0 before we started. So not brilliant but a functional win and we repelled them pretty well.

I'm 63 and probably ahead of him in the pecking order at the club

Such biased commentary in potential giant killing cup sides is so annoying. I get that a lot of people will tune in hoping for the upset but commentate properly. Amongst other things it is patronising to the smaller team.

I see big teams dominate games and lose 1-0 and it is a totally deserved victory for the small team. If the roles were reversed and the same game played out it would be incredibly harsh on the minnow who deserved much more having dominated the game.

Job done. Relatively straightforward in the end. They never really laid a glove on us.

We still cry out for craft in mf - someone who can thread a pass to our young, fast and willing runners up front.

I always want the underdog to win so I'm okay in principle if the commentary hopes for an upset, but I do object when it goes from light support to blatantly skewing the description of the game being played. Portsmouth did okay in the first half hour, but lets not pretend they were dominating the match.

Nice setting to enjoy the win.
3 or 4 other Gooners about the pub.

Good to see the future of Arsenal FC on display against Portsmouth. Eddie should start ahead of Lacazette from hereon. I prefer the directness of Reiss to Pépé's useless trickery.