PORTSMOUTH: Manchester United crashed out of the FA Cup with a narrow 2-1 home defeat to Brighton on Sunday as Gabriel Martinelli’s hat-trick helped Arsenal win 4-1 at Portsmouth to reach the fourth round.
United caretaker boss Darren Fletcher could only watch in horror as the Red Devils’ last chance to win a title this season, and possibly their chances of securing the job until the end of the season, went up in smoke at Old Trafford.
Fletcher’s men were left to regret not getting off to a more positive start before Brajan Gruda put the visitors ahead in the 12th minute from Danny Welbeck’s cross.
The roles were reversed midway through the second half when Welbeck raced into the top corner against his former club.
Persistent chants targeted United co-owners the Glazer family and British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe as discontent grew at Old Trafford.
And any hope of a rebound for the club’s leaders after the withdrawal of Ruben Amorim proved to be very short-lived.
Benjamin Sesko’s late header paved the way for a finish in the stands, but it proved too little, too late for Fletcher.
A red card for teenager Shea Lacey in stoppage time for dissent capped United’s miserable afternoon.
Earlier, Martinelli shrugged off backlash over his clash with Liverpool defender Conor Bradley as Arsenal reached the fourth round for the first time in three years.
Championship side Portsmouth were dreaming of an upset against the Premier League leaders when they took the lead after just three minutes through Colby Bishop.
Mikel Arteta made 10 changes from the team that drew 0-0 with Liverpool on Thursday.
Martinelli drew heavy criticism for trying to push Bradley off the field in the closing stages after the Northern Irishman went to the ground with a serious knee injury.
Liverpool confirmed on Sunday that the right-back will require surgery and will miss the rest of the season.
The Brazilian apologized to Bradley after the match and appeared unaffected by the furor at Fratton Park.
“It’s personality, come in and speak on the pitch,” Arteta said.
“To play for a big club you need a big personality because it could be that (being at the center of a controversial incident), it could be an action that you miss, it could be something that costs you a game, and three days later there’s a game, so you have to pick yourself up and make it count.
Meanwhile, West Ham United eased the mounting pressure on Nuno Espirito Santo as new signing Taty Castellanos scored his first goal for the club to beat Queen Park Rangers 2-1 after extra time.
Castellanos was signed to get them out of trouble at the bottom of the Premier League and Lazio’s 26 million ($35 million) arrival turned away a header from Crysencio Summerville’s cross to secure a well-deserved victory.
Elsewhere, Leeds United needed a second-half fightback to beat Derby County 3-1 and book their place in the fourth round.
League One Mansfield held off Sheffield United to book their place in the fourth round with a 4-3 victory at Bramall Lane. Norwich, Hull and West Brom also qualified for the last 32.
In Saturday’s late match, Aston Villa piled more pressure on Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank as the Birmingham club won 2-1.
Emiliano Buendia and Morgan Rogers put Villa in control, but Tottenham rallied after a Wilson Odobert goal to set up a thrilling finale.
Meanwhile, Liam Rosenior’s reign as Chelsea manager began with a 5-1 win over second division Charlton Athletic.
A trip to London rivals Charlton appeared to be a tricky first assignment for Rosenior, who replaced Enzo Maresca this week, but his side succeeded with goals from Jorrel Hato, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez.
Published in Dawn, January 12, 2026
