Arsenal reap rewards for “real grind” as they hand Sporting CP rare home defeat | OneFootball

Martin Odegaard put in a top-quality performance as Arsenal beat Sporting CP 5-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

The Gunners went into the game off the back of a Premier League win over Nottingham Forest. But they were in poor form on the road in the Champions League.

Arsenal travelled to Lisbon winless in their last five away Champions League games, drawing two and losing three. In the Champions League this season, they had drawn with Atalanta and lost to Inter Milan. The Gunners had also failed to score in each of their last four on the road in the Champions League.

Fans may have been wary about the trip to Lisbon. Portuguese champions Sporting CP had beat Manchester City 4-1 at home in the Champions League not too long ago. Of course, that was with Ruben Amorim at the helm.

It took Arsenal less than seven minutes to go ahead in Lisbon, and it was a goal that previewed just how the Gunners would beat their hosts. The move came from Arsenal building up on their right-hand-side, with Jurrien Timber putting in a lovely ball across goal for Gabriel Martinelli to tap in.

Officially scored after 6:43, it was Arsenal’s fastest Champions League goal since September 2016 when Theo Walcott scored against Basel in 6:42.

Sporting CP had gone behind in their big win over Man City, waiting for the second half before getting up and running. In that game, Man City were left ruing missed chances. Arsenal made sure they learned from Man City’s mistakes.

By the 21st minute, Arsenal were 2-0 up thanks to another goal from their right-hand side. Thomas Partey played a nice ball through the defence to Bukayo Saka who had run off the defender’s shoulder. Saka then beat the goalkeeper with a neat touch, which fell into the path of goalscorer Kai Havertz.

It was Saka’s 10th direct goal involvement in 13 Champions League appearances, scoring five with five assists. Saka was a menace throughout, having more shots and shots on target than any other Arsenal player. He led the Gunners for touches in the opposition box (12), duels won (8) and successful dribbles (4).

Timber created three chances, more than any other Arsenal player, completed 93.4% of his passes and made two interceptions.

But the star of the right for Arsenal was Odegaard. The Norwegian was a big miss for Arsenal during his injury, as they struggled in front of goal. Odegaard is the man who links everything together for Mikel Arteta, crucial to the gameplan. In just under 80 minutes of action, Odegaard had 82 touches, more than any other Arsenal player.

Odegaard led the Gunners for chances created (two) and passes in the final third (38) while on the pitch. He also attempted (65) and completed (56) more passes than any other Arsenal player. Odegaard passed to Partey and Saka 15 times each, and Timber nine times, keeping things going on that side of the pitch

“This is what Odegaard brings,” Martin Odegaard said on TNT Sports.

“They’re scoring the goals on the left-hand side, but it’s all coming from the right. Timber’s involved as well. It’s just been magnificent to see that, because it’s all coming together now, finally.

“It’s been a real grind since the start of the season, and I think it’s quite fulfilling sitting there.”

It wouldn’t be an Arsenal game without a set-piece goal, and Gabriel made it 3-0 just before half-time with a bullet header from a lovely-worked corner. It was the first time Sporting CP had conceded three in a home game since they were beaten 5-0 by Man City in the last 16 of the 2021-22 Champions League.

Sporting CP did give Arsenal taste of their own medicine early in the second half with Goncalo Inacio scoring from a corner. That did make Arsenal a bit shaky, but Odegaard won Arsenal a penalty midway through the second half, which Saka dispatched. Make that 11 goal involvements.

And Arsenal looked comfortable from thereon, with Leandro Trossard making it 5-1 late on, handing Sporting CP their first home defeat since October 2023. Arsenal, meanwhile, shot up to seventh in the Champions League table with three games left to play.