Arsenal produced an excellent performance at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Tuesday evening as they beat Sporting CP 5-1 in the Champions League.
The Gunners took little time to establish their dominance in Lisbon, with Gabriel’s stoppage-time header in the first half adding to tap-ins from Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz as the visitors put a lackadaisical Sporting side to the sword.
A mightily impressive first-half display gave Arsenal the buffer they needed as Goncalo Inacio reduced the deficit, but Bukayo Saka’s penalty and Leandro Trossard’s header helped secure an exceptional win for the north London outfit.
How the game unfolded
Arsenal had been forewarned of Sporting’s quality following the Portuguese champions’ demolition of Manchester City before the international break, but the absence of now Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim on the sidelines was always likely to have a sizeable impact on the home side.
Evidence of that was clear for all to see during the first half as Arsenal took an early lead following a sluggish start from Sporting. Jurrien Timber’s excellent cross picked out Martinelli in the six-yard box and the Brazilian made no mistake when tapping home at the far post in the seventh minute.
Arsenal then managed to do what Man City hadn’t several weeks prior, doubling their lead midway through the first half. Thomas Partey’s incisive through ball released the fleet-footed Saka, who rolled across the penalty area for Havertz to prod in from close range. The Amorim-less Sporting simply couldn’t handle their English visitors.
Mikel Arteta’s side continued to smother Sporting with a well-organised press and they waltzed to a three-goal half-time lead. A trademark far-post corner was beautifully delivered by Declan Rice, allowing the unmarked Gabriel to put some deserved gloss on the scoreline with a powerful header.
Despite Sporting’s disastrous first half display, an early strike after the restart offered them a faint lifeline. Arsenal were the side undone by a corner on this occasion, with Premier League-linked Inacio flicking beyond David Raya at the near post.
However, Sporting failed to capitalise on the energy of the home crowd and Arsenal’s slight wobble after the break, with Ousmane Diomande’s late challenge on Martin Odegaard handing the visitors a penalty with 25 minutes to play. The characteristically clinical Saka made no mistake from the spot, firing low and hard beyond Franco Israel’s outstretched glove.
Morten Hjulmand threatened to revive Sporting once more with an inventive side-footed effort but it was Trossard who provided the final goal of the game in 82nd minute. Substitute Mikel Merino thumped an effort goalward from the edge of the box and Trossard was on hand to head home the rebound following Israel’s initial save.
The Belgian’s strike capped a glorious away display for the Gunners in what was their first Champions League victory on the road this term. The scoreline didn’t flatter Arsenal as they ran riot against a woeful Sporting side, rising up the table courtesy of a commanding triumph.
*Ratings provided by FotMob*
GK: David Raya – 8.1/10 – One simple fingertip save was all the Spaniard had to deal with during the first half – and a few fireworks exploding above his head – and while he was busier after the break, he stood up to everything chucked his way.
RB: Jurrien Timber – 8.2/10 – Produced a sumptuous delivery as Arsenal opened the scoring early doors and played his part as the visitors overwhelmed Sporting down the right flank. Defensively sound, too.
CB: William Saliba – 7.1/10 – Largely untested during the first half and made relatively light work of Sporting’s attempts to throw bodies forward after the restart. The kind of performance we have come to expect from the Frenchman.
CB: Gabriel – 7.8/10 – Produced the header on the stroke of half-time that put Arsenal in a commanding position and won the majority of his duels with the in-form Viktor Gyokeres. A commanding display that included some important interventions.
LB: Riccardo Calafiori – 6.2/10 – Not overworked in his own defensive third but served up the odd shaky moment. Still, it was a largely positive performance from the Italian.
CM: Martin Odegaard – 7.7/10 – Elegance personified, Odegaard pulled the strings in the Portuguese capital. At the heart of everything positive during the first half and won a crucial penalty after the break as Arsenal came under pressure.
CM: Thomas Partey – 6.8/10 – Unlocked Sporting’s defence with a chipped through ball as Arsenal doubled their lead and was press resistant on the occasions Sporting attempted to close the ball down.
CM: Declan Rice – 7.6/10 – The Englishman’s corner delivery was on point here as Gabriel nodded home before the break and he helped recycle possession effectively as Arsenal dictated the tempo from start to finish.
RW: Bukayo Saka – 8.7/10 – Ran riot down the right-hand side, causing Maximiliano Araujo, Goncalo Inacio and the covering Hidemasa Morita nightmares. Joyous to watch as he drove at green and white shirts relentlessly, securing an assist and a goal for good measure.
ST: Kai Havertz – 8.0/10 – In the right place at the right time to score a simple second for the Gunners and buzzed around the final third effectively. Did the simple things well and seldom surrendered possession.
LW: Gabriel Martinelli – 7.7/10 – A typically energetic performance from Martinelli, who set the tone with his opener as he arrived at the perfect moment at the far post. Caused 17-year-old Geovany Quenda significant issues.
Substitutes
SUB: Leandro Trossard (70′ for Martinelli) – 7.0/10
SUB: Mikel Merino (70′ for Rice) – 6.1/10
SUB: Ethan Nwaneri (78′ for Odegaard) – 6.4/10
SUB: Oleksandr Zinchenko (78′ for Calafiori) – 6.0/10
SUB: Jakub Kiwior (84′ for Gabriel) – N/A
Subs not used: Neto (GK), Tommy Setford (GK), Kieran Tierney, Jorginho, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus.
Manager
Mikel Arteta – 9/10 – An expert performance from the Gunners after some testing away nights in the Champions League this term. Despite a ten-minute wobble after the break, Arsenal showed the maturity and ruthlessness required to thrive on the road in Europe.
Player of the match: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
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