Arsenal delivered the statement performance that Mikel Arteta had been demanding in the Champions League as they thrashed Sporting CP 5-1 in Lisbon.
The Gunners boss had urged his side to develop a ruthless edge to end a run of more than a year without an away success in Europe, and watched his side do just that and more as they equalled the club’s biggest-ever margin of victory in the competition with a magnificent showing at a subdued Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Arsenal were 3-0 up at half-time on Tuesday night as they became the first team to beat in-form Sporting over 90 minutes in any competition so far this season, with Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Gabriel all on target before Bukayo Saka’s second-half penalty after a Goncalo Inacio reply and Leandro Trossard’s late header that saw them score five goals in the Champions League for the first time since 2008.
Arsenal made four changes from Saturday’s impressive 3-0 home victory over Nottingham Forest that ended their four-game winless run in the Premier League, with Declan Rice, Martinelli and Havertz all coming back in along with Thomas Partey as Jorginho, Mikel Merino, Trossard and Gabriel Jesus dropped to the bench.
They were in complete and total control of a one-sided first half from the outset, dominating early before breaking the deadlock after just seven minutes when Rice released Jurrien Timber and the Dutch defender’s low ball into the six-yard box was tapped in from close range by Martinelli. The goal stood after a VAR check for a potential offside against Timber.
Arsenal doubled their lead only 15 minutes later as they continued to orchestrate proceedings, Partey lifting the ball over for Saka to put through the legs of goalkeeper Franco Israel and Havertz turning home from a couple of yards out.
Sub-par Sporting could not lay a glove on Arsenal, their best effort of the first half coming when teenage winger Geovany Quenda was given too much space by Rice to run forward and unleash a powerful drive that was helped over by David Raya, who had the distraction of fireworks and smoke bombs being let off behind his goal early in the game.
Arsenal further underlined their surprising dominance against one of Europe’s most in-form teams right on the stroke of half-time when Gabriel lost his marker to power in Rice’s corner with an emphatic header, though Sporting hit back straight after the break - as they did in their 4-1 demolition of Manchester City on the same ground under Ruben Amorim earlier this month - when centre-back Inacio’s steered volley from a corner deflected past Raya at his front post.
Sporting began to grow into the game at last and threatened a second as former Tottenham youngster Marcus Edwards and prolific striker - and rumoured Arsenal transfer target - Viktor Gyokeres led the charge, Arsenal sent a few warning shots before they were gifted the chance to restore their three-goal cushion.
After an initial tackle from Inacio, Ousmane Diomande took down influential Gunners skipper Martin Odegaard and Polish referee Szymon Marciniak had no hesitation in point to the spot before Saka stepped up to blast low into the corner.
Sporting were still not throwing in the towel as Raya got down low to deny captain Morten Hjulmand and Trincao whistled a strike over the crossbar, but they were picked off again when substitute Trossard was first to the rebound from a parried Merino attempt and headed in goal number five.
There was still time for Raya to touch a rifled Gyokeres shot onto the post, while teenager Ethan Nwaneri came close to a sixth for Arsenal in the dying moments.
