Morning all.
I had a choice. The Great British Bake Off Final, or Sporting Lisbon v Arsenal. It was a tough decision to make but earplugs in and iPad in hand, Arsenal just edged it. Unlike the actual game of course which Mikel Arteta’s players bossed with consummate ease!
The occasion reminded me a bit of November 25th 2003 when no one gave Arsenal a chance against Inter Milan at the San Siro but ended up coming away with the same scoreline as last night. The two games played out differently though as in Milan, a flurry of late goals secured our convincing victory whereas last night, we started strong, took our chances and pretty much had the victory secured before the break.
Mikel Arteta had an almost fully fit squad to select his starting eleven from with only Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu ruled out. Even Kieran Tierney was fit enough to be included in the travelling squad. Kai Havertz, Declan Rice and Gabriel Martinelli returned to the side having been rested at the weekend and Thomas Partey started again having played just 45 minutes on Saturday.
I thought Arsenal played well against Nottingham Forest on Saturday but last nights performance went up another level. The first half was simply brilliant. From David Raya through to Kai Havertz, every player was at it. Arsenal went after Sporting on their own turf and they couldn’t handle it.
Arsenal handed Sporting Lisbon a Champions League humbling in what was one of the best European away performances in a long long time and were 3-0 up before half-time thanks to goals from Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Gabriel. Sporting, and their fans, probably thought a comeback was on the cards when the home team scored shortly after the second half kicked off but no, Arsenal stood firm.
Then a penalty, awarded for a bad challenge on Martin Odegaard and perfectly executed by Bukayo Saka, restored our three goal lead. With around ten minutes to go, Leandro Trossard made it 5-1.
Our goals:
-
From our right side, Jurrien Timber whipped a lovely ball across the six-yard box which caused the Sporting defence problems. Kai Havertz made a nuisance of himself before Gabriel Martinelli, lurking at the far post, tucked the ball into the back of the net.
-
Again from our right side, although this time it was Thomas Partey who knocked the ball over the Sporting defence for Saka. He toe poked the ball through the legs of keeper and into the path of Kai Havertz giving the German a simple tap in.
-
A set-piece from our left. Declan Rice whipped in a corner and Gabriel did the rest. Power, accuracy and brilliant. His celebration – naughty but funny.
-
A clinically taken penalty by Bukayo Saka. Martin Odegaard had been challenged from behind by Diomande and the referee didn’t hesitate to point to the spot. I was surprised Diomande wasn’t shown a second yellow card.
-
Super sub Leandro Trossard was in the right place at the right time when their keeper parried Mikel Merino’s fierce shot into his path for a relatively straightforward header into the back of the net.
Seriously, does it get any better at this stage of the season than going to Portugal and battering a team which nearly everyone outside of the Arsenal family thought we’d lose? A team who are reigning champions in Portugal, who haven’t lost a Champions League fixture this season and haven’t lost a home fixture for a long time? No. It. Doesn’t.
Five goals away from home in the Champions League against the club sitting second in this stupid league format is something to savour but so is conceding just the one goal. Our defending was excellent, David Raya, outstanding.
Much has been said and written about Viktor Gyokeres, a striker on many a clubs transfer wish list ahead of January and next summers transfer window, well, right now he’s probably still trying to find his way out of William Saliba’s pocket.
The Frenchman’s defensive partner Gabriel had to be replaced late in the game. He felt something said Mikel after the game. Hopefully it’s nothing serious and he’s fit for the weekend.
I think it’s becoming clear that while injuries were not an excuse for our loss of form pre this international break, they were in all likelihood, the reason.
Catch up in the comments.
