Mikel Arteta took a step closer to lifting the FA Cup as both an Arsenal captain and a manager as the Gunners breezed past Portsmouth at Fratton Park to make the quarter-finals.
Kenny Jackett's hosts, who currently sit third in League One, enjoyed plenty of possession in the first period but were unable to turn that into clearcut opportunities as a much-changed Gunners side struggled to get going.
Manager Arteta - who lifted the FA Cup as Arsenal captain in 2014 - saw Lucas Torreira, one of nine changes, taken off with an ankle injury in the first period, before Sokratis Papastathopoulos fired the Gunners ahead on the stroke of half-time after a Reiss Nelson cross.
Eddie Nketiah smuggled home the second in the second period thanks to another Nketiah assist, as the Gunners kept alive their hopes of winning a trophy in Arteta's first season in charge.
Here are the game's talking points.
1. Torreira's cruel twist
Once the darling of the Arsenal fans, Torreira has seen his status among the Gunners faithful slip in recent months, with the Uruguayan making his first start since the January draw at Chelsea here.
As fate would have it, that start didn't last for long.
A, shall we say, 'robust' challenge from James Bolton saw the diminutive midfielder go over on his ankle, and while the initial reports on his welfare are encouraging, and extended spell on the sidelines would be a huge blow for him.
2. *That* booking
Mike Dean booked a footballer for being a bit of a showman. Yeah, Mike Dean.
It is important to categorise the official's decision to caution Matteo Guendouzi as 'funny' before we do anything else, and then once we've done that we can actually arrive at the conclusion that it might do the young midfielder some good in the long run.
Listen to the referee, Matteo.
3. A full Nelson
In the aftermath of last week's Europa League elimination and with so many changes made, this was a perfect chance for some on the fringes to make their point to Arteta.
And Nelson did.
The youngster was full of running in the Gunners' difficult first half, and chalked up a couple of assists either side of half-time to underline a promise that, while still a little raw, is certainly worth investing in.
4. Eddie's ready
Another game and another goal for Nketiah, who looks to be a forward more suited to playing in team like Arsenal's as opposed to one scrapping for Championship promotion like Leeds.
It was a poacher's finish from the 20-year-old as he followed up his strikes against Bournemouth and Everton with a third in his last six appearances, and his is a refreshing presence in a squad packed with forward talents who might have an eye or two on playing elsewhere in the months to come.
Nketiah just wants to play for Arsenal , and that enthusiasm is infectious.
5. Eyes on the real prizes
Of the 22 players who started this football match, 15 hadn't begun their side's previous one.
That doesn't mean that Kenny Jackett and Mikel Arteta were taking things lightly or, that old favourite, 'disrespecting the FA Cup' though, merely that they fancied looking at something new in this less pressurised environment.
Portsmouth, currently third in League One, have greater reason to focus most of their attentions on their league campaign, while Arteta, backed with vastly greater resources and players, will also know that the Premier League is where his bread is buttered when it comes to Arsenal's season.
