After the outrage, a comfortable win for Arsenal and the chance to cut loose in the Champions League. How the hosts needed this, a night to channel their frustration following back-to-back defeats in the Carabao Cup and Premier League, led by a pair of dazzling performances from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli. A routine victory against a poor Sevilla side, who at this rate will struggle to even return to the Europa League, brought Mikel Arteta some relief and put the Gunners on course for the last-16.
This has been a difficult week for Arsenal but Saka and Martinelli revived Arteta’s side and sparked them into life. Complaints over VAR aside, injuries have hit and an alarming drop-off in form has followed among some members of Arteta’s squad, but Saka and Martinelli were irrepressible. After being shackled and doubled-up on in the controversial 1-0 defeat at Newcastle on Saturday night, Arsenal’s flying wingers were released at the Emirates; Sevilla’s full-backs, Juanlu and Kike Salas, could at least console each other after they both endured torrid evenings.
