Fresh from a humiliatingexit to Olympiacos, Mikel Arteta’s Gunners bounced back with a 2-0 FA Cup win over Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

Goals from Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Eddie Nketiah were enough for Arsenal to advance to the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Mikel Arteta would have demanded a response from his players after a shock defeat to Olympiacos in midweek to send them crashing out of the Europa League, with the FA Cup their only realistic chance of silverware.

The Spaniard made nine changes in total – with only David Luiz and Bukayo Saka keeping their places – as Pablo Mari finally made his debut after signing from Flamengo in January.

Portsmouth – unbeaten in 19 home games this season and cheered on by a sellout crowd – began on the front foot, with Marcus Harness and Ellis Harrison proving to be a menacing duo for the League One side with half-chances early on.

Arsenal suffered a hammer blow when Lucas Torreira suffered a suspected ankle injury which required the Uruguayan to be stretchered off after just quarter of an hour.

The break in play allowed the Gunners to regroup, however, and they had their first chance when Gabriel Martinelli headed over from close range after some good work from Reiss Nelson.

Deep into first-half stoppage time after Torreira’s injury, the Gunners made the breakthrough. Joe Willock was found free on the right and the youngster whipped in a teasing cross into Sokratis, who volleyed home with the confidence of a 40-goal striker. It was a stunning finish from the Greek, although few would argue the visitors deserved to be in front after a lacklustre first half.

But it mattered little in the grand scheme of things because within six minutes of the interval, they doubled their lead with a goal the club’s academy coaches will have been delighted to observe.

Nelson raced past Steve Seddon and whipped in a fine cross to find Nketiah, who was fortunate with the first touch but made no mistake with his second, slamming home into the roof of the net.

That goal knocked the stuffing out of Kenny Jackett’s side and provided some breathing room for Arsenal, who were able to control possession in the second half in the way Arteta would have demanded from his side.

And despite a late rally from the hosts, the Gunners were rarely troubled as they cruised into the last eight with their hopes of a trophy still very much alive.