MATCH REPORT – PLAYER RATINGS – ARTETA REACTION – VIDEO
Effectively, that was enjoyable.
Arsenal produced their finest away European efficiency of Mikel Arteta’s 5 years in cost to thump Sporting Lisbon 5-1 on the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
The end result – equalling our largest profitable margin on the street in both the Champions League or European Cup – places the Gunners in a powerful place to qualify for the knockout phases through a top-eight end whereas additionally respiratory new perception right into a season after a interval of stuttering autumnal type.
Previous to the match, a lot of the speak centered on Sporting’s unbelievable type, notably in Lisbon. The reigning Portuguese champions gained all 17 of final season’s residence league video games, hadn’t misplaced to any facet on their patch since October 2023 and lately humbled Manchester Metropolis. Make no mistake, regardless of their current change of head coach, this was a fortress that Arsenal bulldozed.
Whereas Arteta persistently talks in regards to the significance of tackling video games one after the other, Saturday’s shock lineup towards Forest urged the Spaniard had been eyeing this problem for some time. Declan Rice, Thomas Partey, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli have been all restored to the beginning lineup – arguably our strongest of the season – whereas the bench was packed stuffed with expertise. With solely Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White lacking the journey as a result of harm, the one teenage presence was keeper Tommy Setford and regulars Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri.
You sensed instantly that Arsenal meant enterprise. Contained in the opening minute, Odegaard and Martinelli discovered themselves in harmful positions. It set the tone for a night once we pressed with menace figuring out Sporting stubbornly adhered to a coverage of enjoying out from the again. Having struggled for objectives away from residence in Europe, the query was whether or not we might tighten the screw by discovering the online.
On seven minutes we did precisely that. Partey and Odegaard mixed off the best flank to seek out Rice in a pocket of area. The England worldwide wasted no time releasing Timber who teased a ball throughout the six-yard field that Martinelli transformed on the again publish with a late run behind his marker. It was exact, fast soccer and the Brazilian’s fourth objective of the season utterly caught the hosts off guard.
Within the fast aftermath, Arsenal retreated right into a compact, slender unit with all 11 males behind the ball and it appeared like we is likely to be tempted to take a seat on the lead. Sporting huffed and puffed for a few minutes however struggled to provide something of benefit and realised quickly sufficient that any sloppy play can be punished by a swift counter-attack. Time and time once more within the first half, Arsenal sliced by way of the centre of the pitch making an attempt to work area for Saka on the best. In line with TNT Sports activities, 65% of first half assaults got here down that facet. And with good motive.
The winger knew he had the beating of his marker, Goncalo Inacio, whether or not he had the ball at his toes or if he was sprinting behind. Certain sufficient, when Partey lofted a go contained in the Sporting left-back on 20 minutes, Saka, who’d been pointing the place he wished the ball, burst into the field and toe-poked it previous the onrushing keeper Franco Israel for Havertz to faucet into an empty internet. It was stunning in its simplicity.
The remainder of the half was performed with an actual swagger. Partey completely dominated the midfield – a efficiency later described by the supervisor as “probably the greatest I’ve seen from him” – whereas Odegaard pulled the strings in pockets of area. The Norwegian is sort of a softly tailor-made swimsuit worn with a Cuban collar shirt, there’s all the time a stage of panache elevating that smart-casual manner of his. Whereas it’s reductive to recommend the captain single-handedly makes Arsenal look good, it does really feel that manner on nights like this.
“He’s an unbelievable participant, the day he returned there was a giant smile on my face,” mentioned Saka afterwards. “I’m pleased he’s again and I hope he stays match for the remainder of the season.”
Saka, Havertz and Rice all had half probabilities to increase the lead, Raya made a sensible cease from 17-year-old Quenda, who confirmed fast toes earlier than firing from lengthy vary, and Gabriel earned his flowers from the travelling Gooners for seeing Viktor Gyokeres out of play on a few events. Simply to rub salt within the Swede’s wounds, Huge Gabi barrelled residence a header from a scrumptious Rice nook on the stroke of half-time and promptly stole his opponent’s trademark masks celebration. High shithousery from the centre-back.
A 3-goal benefit on the break felt like job finished. Type of. You simply hoped we wouldn’t do something foolish like conceding a sloppy objective early within the second interval. So, after all, that’s what we did. Raya had already been examined by a bouncing shot by Morita when Ignacio flashed residence a first-time volley from the ensuing nook. Taking nothing away from the end or the way in which Sporting muscled Odegaard and Saka out of issues, we shouldn’t be permitting a participant to transform like that on the close to publish. Calafiori seemed to be the marker however he was left in a heap on the turf. One to analyse when the boys are again at London Colney.
The objective breathed life into the Alvalade, and for some time Sporting threatened an unlikely comeback. Gyokeres, with the bit between his enamel, gained a free-kick from Gabriel earlier than firing the set piece into Row Z. On commentary, Steve McMananaman was so determined for the ball to go in, that he screamed ‘Bang’ when the striker hit the ball. Do fuck off, Steve.
Ineffective within the first half, Marcus Edwards additionally got here into issues, firing over and forcing us to defend a deflected cross. In response, Arsenal tried to take the sting out of issues. Raya picked up a reserving for time-wasting and the Polish referee punished Jurrien Timber for dawdling over a throw-in, one thing he did repeatedly all night time a lot to the annoyance of the house help.
It might be hyperbolic to recommend Arsenal have been clinging on for pricey life on the hour-mark, however after Gyokeres fired one other try over the bar, we have been very grateful that Sporting shot themselves within the foot. Younger defender Ousmane Diomande, already on a reserving for an earlier foul on Havertz, went by way of the again of Odegaard within the field, to concede a penalty which player-of-the-match Saka transformed with trademark aplomb. Added to his earlier help that’s now 15 objective involvements in 17 appearances this season.
The penalty actually popped the Sporting balloon and from there on out, the Gunners stored their opponents at arm’s size whereas enjoying on the break.
Arteta launched Trossard and Merino with 20 minutes remaining after which despatched on Nwaneri and Zinchenko as we rested a number of the huge weapons for Saturday’s journey to West Ham. The substitutes all appeared hungry and when Merino fired a fierce effort goalwards, Trossard helped himself to the rebound to go residence and spherical off a really satisfying night.
There’s no denying Arsenal have appeared stodgy at instances this season so this was a well timed reminder of what we’re able to when our greatest gamers can be found.
Whereas Sporting ended the sport with extra possession and extra makes an attempt on objective (19 vs 13), xG was closely weighted within the Gunners’ favour (0.97 vs 4.23).
Sporting CP (0.97) 1-5 (4.23) Arsenal
— The xG Philosophy (@xGPhilosophy) November 26, 2024
There was completely no doubting who have been the higher crew main Arteta to purr in his post-game press convention:
“We have been so good, you must be so good in each division and we suffered as effectively in lots of moments within the sport however we have been so efficient and so environment friendly once we begin to assault the place and right this moment that was a giant distinction.”
Chatting with TNT Sports activities, he added:
“I’m very pleased. It’s a giant end result towards a giant opponent. I believe they haven’t misplaced a sport right here in 18 months and we wished to make an announcement. I felt actually good vitality, actually good perception earlier than the match. It’s important to put it into observe. I believe the primary half was distinctive. It gave us the platform to win the sport and a very constructive and vital win for us.”
Whilst you can’t draw too many conclusions from the Champions League desk at this level, Arsenal’s tally of 10 factors from 5 video games may be very strong. And with residence video games towards Monaco and Dinamo Zagreb to return and a visit to Girona rounding issues off in January, we’re well-placed to safe the top-eight end that will see us keep away from two further video games in February.
It’s most likely not value wanting too far forward at this level. Importantly, we’ve began to construct momentum that we’ll be hoping to maintain on the London Stadium on Saturday.
In case you’re out in Portugal, like Blogs, get pleasure from the remainder of your journey. Lewis Ambrose shall be protecting tomorrow earlier than regular service is resumed on Friday.
