ARSENAL thrashed Sporting Lisbon 5-1 in their Champions League clash tonight.
Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhaes, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard all scored for Mikel Arteta’s side, while Goncalo Inacio bagged for the hosts.
- Kick off time: 8pm GMT
- TV channel: TNT Sports 1
- Live stream: discovery+
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Gunners need to put run together
Having slipped behind leaders Liverpool, it is important that Arsenal can put a run of form together over the festive period.
With the games coming thick and fast, Arteta has the chance to put pressure on their rivals.
With the two sides above them playing each other this weekend, victory at West Ham is a must.
Odegaard leads by example
Martin Odegaard is the spine of this Arsenal team.
Without him, they look lost and lack a cutting edge.
The Norwegian playmaker was on form again this evening and makes Mikel Arteta’s side tick.
As long as they keep him fit, the sky is the limit for The Gunners.
Champions League full-time scores
Slovan Bratislava 2-3 AC Milan
Sparta Prague 0-6 Atletico Madrid
Barcelona 3-0 Brest
Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 Red Bull Salzburg
Bayern Munich 1-0 PSG
Inter Milan 1-0 RB Leipzig
Man City 3-3 Feyenoord
Sporting 1-5 Arsenal
Young Boys 1-6 Atalanta
FT: Man City 3-3 Feyenoord
How about this for a result.
Despite being 3-0 up, Man City concede three goals in fourteen minutes to make it six games without a win for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Next up, a trip to Anfield.
FT: Sporting 1-5 Arsenal
It was a clinical display from Mikel Arteta’s side this evening.
The stats suggest there was not much between the two teams but this was a match that The Gunners controlled.
Victory puts them seventh in the Champions League table.
View from SunSport’s Jordan Davies in Lisbon
One of the all-time great European performances from Arsenal here. Pretty much a complete performance, totally dominating away from home with a swagger to boot.
Gabriel mimicking Viktor Gyokeres’ ‘mask’ celebration as it went to 3-0 before half-time just sums up the confidence running through Arsenal once more after a tricky run of form.
Are… are Arsenal back? Time will tell.
FT: Sporting 1-5 Arsenal
It is all over in Lisbon.
A comprehensive victory for The Gunners.
One to forget for the Sporting fans.
Man City 3-3 Feyenoord
89. Wow. just wow.
Man City seemed to have clawed a draw from the jaws of victory here.
Hancko scores for the visitors to level things up after being 3-0 down.
Sporting 1-5 Arsenal
89. Arteta will be more than happy with this result.
On paper this seemed like a tricky fixture.
Saka almost adds another but Israel gets down to make the save.
Man City 3-2 Feyenoord
82. Well this has changed the atmosphere somewhat.
Gimenez scores to really pile the pressure on out of form Man City.
The game seemed to be done but now we have a game on our hands.
Sporting 1-5 Arsenal
83. Merino shoots from the edge of the box and as the ball swerves in the air, the keeper parries it back out into the middle of the goal.
It means a simple finish for Trossard who heads into an empty net.
Sporting have been dreadful defensively, it makes you wonder the standard of the Portuguese league if these are their champions.
Goal – Leandro Trossard (Arsenal)
Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 Red Bull Salzburg
79. Aleix Garcia puts the icing on the cake for the Germans.
This has been a very one-sided game but certainly what Leverkusen needed after their defeat at Anfield.
They have put the Austrians to the sword this evening.
Man City 3-1 Feyenoord
77. No chance of a clean sheet for Pep’s side.
Hadj Moussa converts from close range to give the visitors a slight glimmer of hope in this game.
If they can add another it will certainly be a nervy finish at The Etihad.
Sporting 1-4 Arsenal
75. Sporting a create a couple of chances in succession.
In the first instance, Raya gets down well to make a good save in the bottom corner after being unsighted until late.
Trincao then tries a shot from distance but it takes a big deflection and just loops over the bar with Raya at full-stretch.
Sporting 1-4 Arsenal
70. Arteta has the chance to rotate his squad now.
Martinelli and Rice are the players to make way.
They are replaced by Trossard and Merino.
Barcelona 2-0 Brest
69. Dani Olmo has doubled the lead for the Spanish outfit.
It is always a dangerous scoreline when you only have a slender lead.
The second goal should see Flick’s side through to victory.
Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 Red Bull Salzburg
61. With just under half an hour remaining, the German champions are turning on the style.
Schick adds a fourth for Alonso’s side.
It could be a long evening for the Austrian side.
Sporting 1-4 Arsenal
65. Odegaard is brought down by Diomande and the referee immediately points to the spot.
Saka steps up and buries it in the bottom corner of the goal.
That should calm some Arsenal nerves now.
Goal – Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Penalty to Arsenal
Young Boys 1-5 Atalanta
60. This has turned into a stroll in the park now.
The Italians are dominating the game and look like scoring every time they come forward.
It could be damage limitation time for the Swiss side now.
Man City 3-0 Feyenoord
58. Blip? What blip?
Erling Haaland scores again to put this game to bed.
If only they could play Dutch teams every week, there would be no five consecutive losses then.
Sporting 1-3 Arsenal
56. The atmosphere in the ground is totally different now.
Raya is booked for timewasting and the home fans are letting the Arsenal players know what they think whenever they take their time with throw-ins.
Another goal from Sporting would really put the cat amongst the pigeons.
Man City 2-0 Feyenoord
53. Man City look set to put their dreadful run to an end.
Ilkay Gundogan has scored a second goal for the Premier League champions.
Pep Guardiola will want his side to turn the screw now and get themselves a big win to restore some confidence.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk