by There has been much debate in recent weeks over whether Arsenal are in or out of the title race, but their victory against Sporting underlined why they should be considered contenders to go all the way in the Champions League .
Arsenal’s struggles on the road in Europe had been well documented before their trip to Portugal, but they tore Sporting apart with a near-perfect away performance.
Ruthless in attack and solid in defense, they had a three-goal lead at half-time. Sporting rallied after the break and pulled a goal back, but Arsenal responded with two more.
Mikel Arteta hailed it as a historic victory – and that’s what he should do. The last time Arsenal scored five goals in a Champions League away game, Arteta was still playing for Everton.
The rest of Europe will have taken note of this result, just as they did three weeks ago when Sporting beat Manchester City 4-1 on the same ground.
This is a talented sports team that, before last night, hadn’t lost in 90 minutes since March. They also had not been beaten at home for over a year.
Arsenal outscored them by five, with Sporting conceding as many goals against the Gunners as in their previous five Champions League home matches combined.
Arteta had urged his team before this match to be “efficient” in attack after failing to score in any of their last four European away games, and that is exactly what they have been.
Performances on the road were Arsenal’s undoing in the Champions League last season and they will be hoping this will be a turning point.
They won just one of their five away games in the competition last season, beating Sevilla in October. In the two knockout matches against Bayern Munich and Porto, they were beaten and failed to score.
Arteta is aware that is not good enough, but last night will have given him hope that Arsenal are learning at this level. We must not forget that this is only their second season in the Champions League after six years of absence.
However, when they are at their best, Arsenal look like a team capable of competing with Europe’s elite and Sporting were unable to cope.
Martin Odegaard was majestic once again and his return revived the right side of Arsenal’s attack. In the first half, 65 percent of their attacks fell on this flank and it was responsible for the first two goals.
Right-back Jurrien Timber’s brilliant cross found Gabriel Martinelli for Arsenal’s opener and Bukayo Saka teed up Kai Havertz for the second after a lovely cut ball from Thomas Partey.
It was vintage Arsenal under Arteta and you had to wonder if Sporting had only watched tapes of the team over the last couple of months when Odegaard was away.
Everyone knows Arsenal’s biggest weapon is their right side, but Saka had a rare night where he wasn’t double-crossed and Odegaard was also given far too much space.
Even the third goal should not have surprised Sporting, Gabriel scoring with a header from a corner.
The Brazilian imitated Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres’ celebration after the goal and it summed up a difficult evening for the Swede. Gabriel and William Saliba connected it superbly and, apart from a late shot when it hit the post, Gyokeres didn’t have a sniff.
Arsenal’s defense gave their attack the platform to shine and, with injuries decreasing, the bench began to make an impact again.
Substitute Leandro Trossard headed in compatriot Mikel Merino’s saved shot to make it 5-1 after Saka helped himself to a fourth goal from the penalty spot.
Arsenal now look like a team full of confidence.
This victory follows the 3-0 victory against Nottingham Forest and there is a feeling that Arteta’s side have regained their momentum, which is vital given that they are nine points behind leaders Liverpool. Premier League.
The Gunners showed last season that they can run and, on last night’s evidence, they can do it again.
Arsenal are Champions League contenders, but don’t rule them out of the title race either.
