Arsenal bounced back from its Europa League heartache to reach the F.A. Cup quarter-finals as goals from Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Eddie Nketiah sealed a 2-0 win at Portsmouth on Monday.
Mikel Arteta’s side desperately needed a morale-boosting success after Olympiakos snatched a late winner at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday.
Arteta said his players were still feeling “very down” several days after that kick in the teeth, but they survived an early barrage from third-tier Portsmouth to avoid more misery in the F.A. Cup fifth round.
Sokratis put Arsenal ahead just before halftime and Nketiah bagged the second soon after the interval.
Arsenal’s record 13 F.A. Cup titles featured two with Arteta on the team in 2014 and 2015.
The 37-year-old would love to end his first season in charge with another victory lap around Wembley Stadium, especially given Arsenal’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League are hanging in the balance.
“We’ll keep going because we love this competition. We’re on the right path,” Arteta said.
“It’s a difficult place to come but I have faith in these kids. They always respond and I always knew they would do that.
“They have to learn from the difficult moments and manage them but they have the talent and desire and look how hard they work.”