Kenny Jackett: Portsmouth needed to capitalise on first-half opportunities against Arsenal

The Premier League side won 2-0 at Fratton Park tonight, through goals either side of half-time from Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Eddie Nketiah.

It took the Gunners until first-half stoppage time to change the complexion of the match, ending a heartening opening 45 minutes from the Blues.

Once that moment arrived, there was no coming back for a Pompey team fielding six changes.

Still, there was plenty to be encouraged about during the first half, with the hosts posing problems for Arsenal, without testing their keeper sufficiently.

And Jackett felt his side required a goal during that golden patch to have an affect on the match outcome.

He said: ‘We had some pressure early on and needed to find one of those moments to get ourselves in front.

‘They defended well, got the blocks in, David Luiz got a couple of key headers, Emiliano Martinez took a couple of crosses, through that period where we caught them a few times and had some pressure.

‘We couldn’t find that goal, we needed one of those moments.

‘Ultimately, just before half-time, we were frustrated by the goal against. It looked a soft one to me, a regain from a set-piece.

‘I did think we needed to go in 0-0 at half-time to give ourselves a chance - then once you are chasing a game against a side like Arsenal.

‘A goal either side of half time has put them in control and it’s tough for us then after that to be able to get close to them and get the goal back which we needed.

‘Similarly, against any type of team, they can go through the gears in those situations and put you to the sword, but the players never gave up.’