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 0-1 Arsenal
12 min: Saka is penalised for a foul on ex-Spurs man Marcus Edwards around 35 yards out. That seemed a bit harsh as Saka seemed to win the ball, but Sporting have a set-piece in a decent area. It’s not a great delivery, though, and Arsenal clear their lines.
Sporting 0-1 Arsenal
10 min: Sporting quickly go on the attack looking to level things. They work it well to the edge of the box and then spread it left for Quenda, but the wing-back is shut down by Declan Rice just inside the area.
GOAL! Sporting 0-1 Arsenal (Martinelli, 7 min)
And there’s the breakthrough! Rice slips in Timber on the right side of the area, who whips a ball into the six-yard box, where Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli are waiting, and it’s the Brazilian who gets in to tap home.
Sporting 0-0 Arsenal
6 min: Arsenal are dominating these early exchanges, pinning Sporting back...
Sporting 0-0 Arsenal
3 min: An early yellow card for Sporting’s Diomande for a clumsy challenge, and he’s got a long night ahead on a booking.
Sporting v Arsenal
The famous Champions League soundtrack plays, but it is being drowned out by the most deafening noise from the home support. A fantastic atmosphere tonight.
Sporting v Arsenal
A reminder of tonight’s line-ups in Lisbon:
Sporting XI: Israel, St Juste, Inacio, Diomande, Araujo, Morita, Quenda, Hjulmand, Edwards, Gyokeres, Trincao.
Subs: Kovacevic, Callai, Reis, Harder, Catamo, Fresneda, Braganca, Esgaio, Brito, Simoes, Monteiro, Couto.
Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Odegaard, Partey, Rice, Saka, Martinelli, Havertz.
Subs: Neto, Setford, Tierney, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Jorginho, Sterling, Nwaneri, Trossard, Jesus.
Sporting ‘ready’ for Arsenal challenge after sinking City
Ruben Amorim’s successor at Sporting, Joao Pereira, said this week: “Before the game against Manchester City, the players were already thinking that they could reach the play-offs. The victory against City is a morale booster, but it only gives us three points. Against Arsenal it’s a little different. I think we’re ready.”
Mikel Arteta calls on Arsenal to be ‘ruthless'
Sporting, who thrashed Manchester City 4-1 in their last outing, are enjoying an outstanding campaign, remaining unbeaten in second place with 10 points.
Arteta acknowledged the Portuguese champions pose a major challenge for Arsenal but also offer an opportunity for a morale-boosting triumph.
“The run they are on is incredible, which tells you it’s not only about their qualities but their ambition and the team energy they have. That’s the great challenge we have,” he said.
“To come here tomorrow, make a statement, and show that we are capable against this kind of opponent by being ourselves and winning the game.”
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