Arsenal scored five goals in a Champions League away game for just the third time as they obliterated a sorry Sporting Lisbon 5-1 at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli all contributed to the demolition of the Portuguese powerhouses, who momentarily threatened an incredible fightback through Goncalo Inacio but were otherwise torn to shreds by Mikel Arteta's merciless men.
Pitting their wits against a Sporting side that had won nine games on the spin, prevailed in every home match this season and had not failed to score at Estadio Jose Alvalade since October 2022, Arsenal would have likely anticipated a highly strenuous battle from the first whistle.
However, it was anything but in the opening 45 minutes, where Arsenal exuded unbridled confidence and were carving through their hosts at will, while Joao Pereira's men were a shadow of the side that obliterated Manchester City earlier this month.
Martinelli's tap-in, Havertz's one-yard effort and the customary Gabriel header from a corner propelled the Gunners into an unforeseen three-goal lead before half time, although whatever choice words Pereira had for his meek men at the break went down a treat.
After Arsenal ended the first 45 with a goal from a corner, Sporting immediately reduced the arrears via an Inacio header two minutes into the second period, where the Green and Whites suddenly flipped a switch and started to dominate.
However, an indefensible challenge from an already-booked Ousmane Diomande on Martin Odegaard in the penalty area allowed Saka to restore the Gunners' three-goal advantage, before Trossard capped off a five-star display in which Arsenal could have easily left with six or seven goals under their belts.
Arsenal's dismantling of Sporting also takes the Gunners above the Portuguese side into seventh place in the 36-team UCL table, although Pereira's men are clinging onto the eighth and final automatic qualification spot by virtue of scoring one more goal than Brest.
SPORTING VS. ARSENAL HIGHLIGHTS
Gabriel Martinelli goal vs. Sporting (7th min, Sporting 0-1 Arsenal)
Gabriel Martinelli fires Arsenal ahead early on in Lisbon 🤩
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 26, 2024
📺@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/gzExcCfu1I
Arsenal have their first Champions League away goal of the season, and a richly deserved one too!
Jurrien Timber just about manages to keep himself onside on the right flank to pick up Declan Rice's pass, and the Dutchman delivers a sumptuous low cross into the six-yard box.
Neither Kai Havertz nor Sporting goalkeeper Franco Israel can get there, but Martinelli gets goal-side of an unawares Geovany Quenda to tap home the opener.
Kai Havertz goal vs. Sporting (21st min, Sporting 0-2 Arsenal)
What a start for Arsenal 👏
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 26, 2024
Bukayo Saka puts it on a plate for Kai Havertz to extend the Gunners' lead ⭐
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/Xpm3Vp8vRp
Arsenal have been well and truly resurrected, and a meek Sporting have no answer to the Gunners' newfound ruthlessness.
Thomas Partey's delicate lobbed pass finds the run of Saka, who glides past Maximiliano Araujo with ease and beats an onrushing Israel to tee up Havertz for a tap-in.
Gabriel Magalhaes goal vs. Sporting (45+1 min, Sporting 0-3 Arsenal)
Gabriel makes it 3-0 to Arsenal just before the break with a towering header! 💥
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 26, 2024
He also hit Gyökeres' celebration 👀
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/rk9r8ysvtg
Death, taxes, and Gabriel scoring from corners.
Arsenal had been threatening a third ever since Havertz's finish, and they increase their advantage with the final act of the first half, as Gabriel leaves Araujo for dead and powers in a devastating header at the back post from Rice's inswinging delivery.
Goncalo Inacio goal vs. Arsenal (47th min, Sporting 1-3 Arsenal)
The start of a scintillating fightback?
Sporting explode out of the blocks at the start of the second period and beat Arsenal at their own game, as Inacio evades Riccardo Calafiori and turns a low corner home with a smart side-footed volley.
Bukayo Saka goal vs. Sporting (65th min, Sporting 1-4 Arsenal)
Bukayo Saka keeps his composure from the spot to regain the Gunners' three-goal lead 🎯
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 26, 2024
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/FmgE7PxLR4
All of Sporting's hard work in the second half likely undone by one moment of madness from Diomande, who brings down Odegaard in the penalty area with a nonsensical challenge from behind.
Saka steps up to the penalty spot and is unable to fool Israel, who dives the right way, but the Englishman's spot kick is right into the side of the net and out of the Sporting goalkeeper's reach.
Diomande was booked in the first few minutes and surely would have been sent off had that challenge been made anywhere else on the pitch, but Szymon Marciniak keeps his red card in his pocket.
Leandro Trossard goal vs. Sporting (82nd min, Sporting 1-5 Arsenal)
A penny for Ruben Amorim's thoughts right now, as Arsenal make it five through their resident super sub.
Mikel Merino is afforded far too much time and space to let fly from the edge of the box, and even though Israel keeps out his venomous strike, the rebound bounces up for Trossard to nod in.
MAN OF THE MATCH - WILLIAM SALIBA
© Imago
Odegaard pulled the strings as only he can, Saka registered a goal and assist for the second game running, but William Saliba was near-flawless against one of the most lethal strikers in Europe.
The Frenchman barely allowed Viktor Gyokeres a sniff all evening, making four tackles, two interceptions and winning both of his aerial battles to completely nullify the Swedish sensation.
SPORTING VS. ARSENAL MATCH STATS
Possession: Sporting 52%-48% Arsenal
Shots: Sporting 18-13 Arsenal
Shots on target: Sporting 8-9 Arsenal
Corners: Sporting 8-3 Arsenal
Fouls: Sporting 6-8 Arsenal
BEST STATS
Arsenal have scored away from home in the Champions League for the first time in 415 minutes of action away from the Emirates stadium.
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) November 26, 2024
Gabriel Martinelli finally ends the streak. 🙌#UCL
Arsenal have scored 5+ goals in a Champions League away game for the third time in the #UCL era:
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) November 26, 2024
◎ vs. Inter (2003)
◎ vs. Fenerbahce (2008)
◉ vs. Sporting (2024)
Putting Sporting to the Sword. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/1FlngdtntF
WHAT NEXT?
Arsenal return to the Emirates for matchday six of the Champions League, when they host Monaco on December 11, while Sporting's next European engagement comes away to Belgian outfit Club Brugge on December 10.
Before European action takes centre stage again, the Gunners head to West Ham United on Saturday evening for a Premier League London derby, the same day that Pereira's team host Santa Clara in the Primeira Liga.
Ben Knapton
