Mikel Arteta is nothing if not brave. With the outcome of their season hinges on their progress in the FA Cup after being dumped out of the Europa League, the Arsenal manager saw his faith in youth rewarded by a clinical away victory thanks to goals either side of half-time from Sokratis Papstathopoulos and Eddie Nketiah.

Against motivated opponents backed by a vociferous crowd, Arsenal rode the early Portsmouth storm and it took two flashes of inspiration from the returning Reiss Nelson to ease their path into the sixth round.

The forward – one of six players aged 20 or under who started here - was a constant menace down the right flank and totally justified his inclusion ahead of the £72m record signing Nicolas Pépé with a brilliant performance that showed Arsenal supporters there may be reasons to be positive about the future after all.

Portsmouth 0-2 Arsenal: FA Cup fifth round – as it happened
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“I’m pleased with all of them – the kids responded really well,” said a delighted Arteta. “I was looking at them in the 94th minute and they were still pressing and chasing. It’s a joy. I’m really enjoying working with them. They fully deserve the chance. I know it’s risky to play them in this competition but it’s worth that risk.”

With the FA Cup representing Arsenal’s last chance of silverware this season after their defeat by Olympiakos, Arteta surprisingly made nine changes, with the Spanish defender Pablo Marí handed his debut. Nelson returned from injury to make his first start of the year in a youthful attacking trio alongside Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah. Arteta admitted his team selection had been influenced by the Europa League defeat that had left several of his senior players “still hanging on what happened”.

He had been similarly bold in selecting his emerging crop of young players in the ruthless victory at Bournemouth in the last round but against a Portsmouth side who had won their last 10 home matches in all competitions, this trip to Fratton Park was always likely to be a more testing occasion.

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Not since the infamous defeat to Wrexham in 1992 have Arsenal been eliminated from the competition by a team from outside the top two divisions but in Kenny Jackett, their rookie manager was up against someone with a real pedigree in the FA Cup.

The former Wales midfielder played for Watford in 1984 final and also guided Millwall to the last four in 2013, with Portsmouth having already seen off four teams to reach this stage.

Third in League One and chasing a return to the second tier for the first time in nearly eight years, there is a positivity around the club not seen since the 2008 FA Cup triumph and it was reflected in the bouncing atmosphere at the kick-off.