ARSENAL THRASH SPORTING CP 5-1 IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CLASH

Lisbon, Portugal – Arsenal Football Club produced a stunning display of attacking football to thrash Sporting CP 5-1 in their Champions League clash at the Jose Alvalade Stadium on Tuesday night. This is a statement win for the Gunners against the reigning Portuguese Champions-unseating all season and second in Champions league phase going into the game. Their last home game in this competition don’t forget, was a 4-1 dispatching of Manchester City.

The Gunners, who had come into the match on the back of there weekend win over Nottingham Forest in the premier league and a Champions league away lost to Inter Milan. Arsenal have been struggling before the International break, it seems the return of some key players from injury has helped the side. With their frontline of Kai Havert, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli causing havoc in the Sporting CP defense.

Explosive Gunners

The away side took the lead in the 7th minute, when Jurrien Timber found space on the right, collected a pass on the edge of the box and crossed it inside the box,  Gabriel Martinelli slotted a cool finish past Sporting CP goalkeeper, Franco Israel. It was Arsenal first away goal in the Champions League since Eddie Nketiah netted against Eindhoven in December last year.

The Gunners scored the second goal in the 22nd minutes. Again the build up came down the right, this time Thomas Partey lifted a ball over the defence for Saka to scurry onto. He stabbed the ball through the legs of the advancing keeper inside the area, and Havertz had the simple task of tapping in from a yard or two out. Kai Havert Scored his 7th goal of the season.

And literally with the last touch of the first half, Gabriel made it 3-0. In the 45+1 minute, from Declan Rice Conner, Gabriel curled a beautiful finish into the top corner of the net. It was a near perfect first-half display.

Explosive Gunners

Sporting were simply not used to being in this position, and came out with renewed determination for the second-half.

A minute after the restart David Raya made a full stretch save low down to deny Hidemasa Morita, and from the resulting corner Goncalo Inacio 47th minutes goal for the home side.

Hope for the home side, and the sound levels turned up several notches. It was our turn to come under pressure. Shortly afterwards Viktor Gyokeres won a free-kick right on the edge of the area, and took it himself, firing well over.

Saka added Arsenal’s Fourth goal in the 65th minute. Odegaard broke into the area and his progress abruptly halted by a challenge by behind from Ousmane Diomande. Penalty awarded, and Saka stepped up to score decisively, his first away goal in the competition. The English winger’s goal was his fifth of the season, and it capped an impressive display by the 23-year-old.

Trossard added Arsenal’s fifth goal in the 82nd minute, when Mikel Merino’s long-range shot was parried by Israel, and there was Trossard to finish off.

Arteta: We were exceptional

Mikel Arteta hailed his players for the best away European performance of his reign as Arsenal claimed their biggest away win in the Champions League since beating Inter by the same score line in 2003.

“For sure, especially against opposition we played at their home who have not lost a game in 18 months – they have been in top form here – so to play with the level, the determination, the purpose and the fluidity we showed today, I am very pleased,” said Arteta.

“The team played with so much courage, because they are so good. When I’m watching them live they are so good! They were all exceptional today. It was a big performance, a big win and we are really happy.

“The performance was there a few times when we have played big teams. That’s the level that we have to be able to cope and you have to make it happen, and that creates belief.”

MATCH STATS

Arsenal Starting XI :

David Raya (GK): 7.5

Jurrien Timber (RB): 8

William Saliba (CB): 7

Gabriel Magalhães (CB): 8

Riccardo Calafiori (LB): 6.5

Thomas Partey (CM): 7

Declan Rice (CM): 7.5

Martin Ødegaard (CM): 8

Bukayo Saka (RW): 9

Kai Havertz (ST): 8

Gabriel Martinelli (LW): 7.7

Substitutes:

Leandro Trossard: 7.0

Mikel Merino: 6.1

Ethan Nwaneri: 6.4

Oleksandr Zinchenko: 6.0

– Arsenal: Gabriel Martinelli (7′), Kai Havert (22′), Gabriel (45+1′), Saka (65′ Pen), Trossard (82′),

– Sporting CP: Inãcio (47′)

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