Sporting v Arsenal LIVE: Result and final score as Gunners rip through hosts in Champions League
The Gunners have now won three of their five games so far in this season’s Champions League
Arsenal delivered the statement Champions League win Mikel Arteta had demanded as they swept aside Sporting 5-1.
Arteta wanted his team to prove their European credentials following some underwhelming displays away from home, and the Gunners manager got exactly what he asked for.
Goals from Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhaes, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard got their continental campaign back on track in style following the 1-0 defeat at Inter Milan last time out.
Sporting 1-4 Arsenal
77 min: Arteta makes more changes, with exciting youngster Ethan Nwaneri replacing Martin Odegaard. Zinchenko is also on for Calafiori.
Sporting 1-4 Arsenal
74 min: Trincao dribbles to the edge of the box and let’s fly but his shot is deflected off Gabriel and just over the Arsenal bar. Sporting continue to probe for another goal but the penalty has sucked most of the atmosphere out of the stadium.
Sporting 1-4 Arsenal
71 min: A chance for Sporting as Hjulmand comes forward and tries to curl a shot inside the near post, but Raya does really well to stretch out and push it away for a corner, which Sporting waste.
Sporting 1-4 Arsenal
68 min: Rice and Martinelli are replaced by Merino and Trossard.
GOAL! Sporting 1-4 Arsenal (Saka pen, 65 min)
Bukayo Saka puffs out his cheeks, shuffles his feet and then whips the ball into the bottom-right corner, past the outstretched Israel in goal.
Penalty to Arsenal!
64 min: Oh dear, what a silly mistake this is by Diomande, just as Sporting were getting into the game. The midfielder dives in on Martin Odegaard in the box and slides through the back of him, and it’s a clear penalty.
Sporting 1-3 Arsenal
63 min: Gyokeres shows his brightest moment of the game so far, racing on to a throughball and lashing a shot towards goal from just outside the box, but it takes a little bobble before contact and his effort sails over the bar.
Sporting 1-3 Arsenal
61 min: Gabriel clears a dangerous cross into the box as Sporting continue to probe. Arteta looks frustrated on the sideline.
Sporting 1-3 Arsenal
58 min: Brilliant defending by Gabriel, who stands his ground in the box against Gyokeres before picking his moment to dive in and steal the ball from the Swede’s toes.
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