Sporting CP 1 – 5 Arsenal – Match Report

We turned in one in every of our greatest away performances within the Champions League in current reminiscence to safe a press release win in Lisbon.

In opposition to the reigning Portuguese champions – unbeaten all season and second within the Champions League league part going into the sport – we netted three with out reply in a dominant first half. Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz put us two to the nice earlier than Gabriel headed in from a nook on the stroke of half-time.

An early second-half objective from Goncalo Inacio gave the hosts transient hope, however Bukayo Saka’s penalty and Leandro Trossard’s late objective from a parried Mikel Merino shot gave the scoreline gloss on a exceptional night time in Europe.

The travelling Arsenal supporters have been left to rejoice our greatest away win within the competitors since beating Inter by the identical rating in 2003.

Martinelli’s magic

One other European away day, one other excitable dwelling environment to attempt to dampen early on, and we did simply that contained in the opening ten minutes.

We had began actually brightly, having our first try on objective within the first minute, however Riccardo Calafiori’s observe up after Martinelli’s cross was half cleared went harmlessly broad.

We continued to dictate the early play – Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka mixed properly inside the realm however the hosts scrambled away the hazard.

Then got here the breakthrough. Jurrien Timber discovered house on the correct, despatched in a low cross that requested questions that the Portuguese defence couldn’t reply, and Martinelli stole in to attain previous Franco Israel.

It was our first away objective within the Champions League since Eddie Nketiah netted in opposition to Eindhoven in December final yr.

We have been good worth for the lead although. Sporting – with a 100 per cent home file this season had barely obtained into our half within the first ten minutes.

Explosive Gunners

It was little shock then, once we doubled the lead halfway via the primary half. Once more the construct up got here down the correct, this time Thomas Partey lifted a ball over the defence for Saka to scurry onto. He stabbed the ball via the legs of the advancing keeper inside the realm, and Havertz had the straightforward activity of tapping in from a yard or two out.

The house followers began letting off fireworks contained in the Estadio Jose Alvalade, however all of the leisure was being equipped by the boys in crimson and white.

We have been knocking the ball round in midfield, our motion inflicting no finish of issues for a workforce that hasn’t dropped a degree at dwelling within the league for the reason that season earlier than final.

The locals have been rising more and more stressed, not used to any visiting workforce dominating them on this means. Their final dwelling sport on this competitors don’t neglect, was a 4-1 dispatching of Manchester Metropolis.

And actually with the final contact of the primary half, Gabriel made it 3-0. Declan Rice’s swerving nook from the correct was simply on the cash for our large Brazilian defender, arriving to energy in his header on the far submit. It was a close to excellent first-half show.

Sporting’s revival

Sporting have been merely not used to being on this place, and got here out with renewed willpower for the second-half.

A minute after the restart David Raya made a full stretch save low right down to deny Hidemasa Morita, and from the ensuing nook Goncalo Inacio turned the ball dwelling on the close to submit.

Hope for the house aspect, and the sound ranges turned up a number of notches. It was our flip to come back below strain. Shortly afterwards Viktor Gyokeres gained a free-kick proper on the sting of the realm, and took it himself, firing properly over.

Again in cost

The momentum had swung, however in a single swift second, it was again in our favour. Odegaard broke into the realm and his progress abruptly halted by a problem by behind from Ousmane Diomande. Penalty awarded, and Saka stepped as much as rating decisively, his first away objective within the competitors.

Three-goal cushion restored, we have been again answerable for proceedings. On got here the subs and two of them mixed for our fifth. Mikel Merino’s long-range shot was parried by Israel, and there was Trossard to complete off.

Ethan Nwaneri might have added a late sixth, however the job had properly and actually been performed by then.

What’s subsequent

On Saturday we head throughout London to face West Ham United on the London Stadium within the Premier League, earlier than internet hosting Manchester United in midweek. We now have three Champions League group stage matches remaining – the subsequent two each at dwelling, in opposition to Monaco (December 11) and Dinamo Zagreb (January 22).