Arsenal cruised to a dominating 4-1 FA Cup third round victory over EFL Championship club Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Sunday, Jan. 11. However, Gunners fans have asserted that one of their players failed to live up to expectations in the recent cup tie.
Fans Slam Arsenal Star for Sub-Par Display in Win
During Arsenal’s triumph against Portsmouth, Colby Bishop scored the opener for the hosts in the third minute of the match. However, Andre Dozzell’s eighth-minute own goal handed the Gunners a timely equalizer before Gabriel Martinelli’s goal in the 25th minute.
After Noni Madueke missed a penalty just prior to the break, Martinelli doubled his tally six minutes into the second half of the FA Cup game. The Brazilian attacker completed his first senior hat-trick 21 minutes later, cementing the result against Portsmouth in style.
However, one Arsenal fan claimed that Gunners summer signing Eberechi Eze produced yet another below-par performance at Fratton Park on Sunday. He wrote on X: “Eze has been awful since he signed.”
Eze has been awful since he signed
— Lewi (@lewi_robson) January 11, 2026
Another Gunners supporter asserted that Eze’s display in a number eight role was the sole blemish on the north London outfit’s FA Cup win. He commented on X: “Only down side for me today was Eze’s performance.”
Only down side for me today was Eze’s performance
— Israel (@IsraelDagba) January 11, 2026
An Arsenal fan told Eze, who left Crystal Palace in a potential $90 million move last August, to improve his performances in the future. He posted on X: “Been so disappointed with Eze today. You would think after being benched for so long, he’d be playing like he has a point to prove. Ethan (Nwaneri) is showing him levels, and he is nine years younger. Need way more.”
Been so disappointed with Eze today. You’d think after being benched for so long he’d be playing like he has a point to prove. Ethan is showing him levels, and he is 9 years younger. Need way more
— H (@ClockEndH) January 11, 2026
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Another fan claimed that Gunners academy graduate Ethan Nwaneri should play more often than the former Crystal Palace attacking midfielder. He remarked on X: “Nwaneri should be ahead of Eze in the pecking order.”
Nwaneri should be ahead of Eze in the pecking order
— JJ (@madrigalceo) January 11, 2026
Eze, who is valued at $76 million by Transfermarkt, has started 18 of his 24 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners. The 27-year-old has found the back of the opposition net five times and recorded four assists in 1516 minutes of action for his new club.
Arsenal, on the other hand, will next lock horns with Chelsea in an EFL Cup semi-final first leg tie at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, Jan. 14. The Gunners, who are atop the Premier League table with 49 points from 21 games, will face Nottingham Forest on Jan. 17.
