Gunners destroy Portuguese giants in crucial Champions League clash

Arsenal delivered a commanding performance in the Champions League on Tuesday night, thrashing Sporting Lisbon 5-1 at the Estádio José Alvalade. The final whistle confirmed Arsenal’s biggest away win in the Champions League since their 2003 victory against Inter Milan.  

Arsenal started the stronger of the two teams with Gabriel Martinelli getting on the end of a low drilled pass across the box from Jurrien Timber to give the Gunners a one goal lead only 7 minutes into the game. This dominance then continued with most of the possession being controlled by Arteta’s men which was shortly capitalized on with Havertz scoring one of easiest goals of his career after Bukayo Saka tapped the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs leaving the German international a wide-open goal to aim for. The first half then came to a perfect ending with Gabriel towering over everyone else from the corner and giving Arsenal their third goal of the game with a bullet header just before the half time whistle.  

Minutes into the second half Sporting defender Inacio pulled one back for the Portuguese champions with a surprising goal from a corner only two minutes into the second half. After this goal the Lions then took control of possession too and began to pile the pressure on the Gunners making it a much more competitive game than the first half. This was quickly shut down though with Ousmane Diomande fouling the Arsenal captain Odegard in the middle of the box, this penalty was then confidently converted by Saka into the bottom right-hand corner. After this goal it seemed as if Sporting had given up with Arteta’s men taking complete control of the game which substitute Leandro Trossard took advantage of by giving the Premier league giants their fifth goal to wrap up the game. 

Once again Bukayo Saka was the standout performer and was awarded man of the match for his goal and assist taking his tally to 15 GA in 17 games in all competitions this season. Willam Saliba also had an impressive game keeping the most in-form striker in Europe, Viktor Gyökeres, out of the game and on his 100th appearance for the Gunners once again proved why he is one of the best defenders in the world. Arsenal play Monaco in their next game of the champions league, the French team find themselves one spot above the Gunners as it stands and will be a huge game for determining the automatic qualification spots for the knockout stages.