Arsenal delivered a commanding 5-1 victory over Sporting in Lisbon, significantly improving their chances of automatic Champions League qualification.
The Gunners took advantage of a slow start by their opponents, much like Manchester City had done in Ruben Amorim’s final match in charge of Sporting, but unlike City’s earlier win, Arsenal refused to let them off the hook.
For the first time since August, Mikel Arteta fielded his strongest starting XI, with Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Martin Ødegaard all back in the lineup after injury setbacks.
Arsenal were ruthless in the first half, netting three goals courtesy of Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel, with Saka playing a pivotal role in creating chaos down the right wing.
Sporting briefly stirred after the break, pulling a goal back just minutes into the second half when Goncalo Inácio turned in a corner.
However, any hope of a comeback was quickly extinguished when Saka converted a penalty following a foul on Ødegaard. Leandro Trossard sealed the win late in the match, tapping in the rebound after Sporting’s goalkeeper Franco Israel had parried a shot from Mikel Merino.
Arsenal’s dominance was evident from the start. Timber set up Martinelli for the opening goal inside 10 minutes, followed shortly by a goal from Havertz, assisted by Saka.
Gabriel’s header from a Rice corner made it 3-0 before the break. Despite Sporting’s second-half response, Saka’s calm penalty restored Arsenal’s commanding lead.
Ødegaard’s fall to a reckless challenge from Ousmane Diomande could have led to a second yellow card for the Sporting defender, but no further action was taken.
With the win, Arsenal climbed to seventh place, above Sporting on goal difference. Arteta praised the performance, calling it the best away European showing of his tenure.
“It was a big win, a big performance, and we are really happy,” Arteta said. “The team played with so much courage, because they are so good. When I’m watching them live, they are so good! They were all exceptional today.”
Player of the match, Bukayo Saka, shared his thoughts post-game, saying, “We played with confidence. Everyone was top and anyone could have got this [the player of the match award]. I’m really proud of all the boys today. This is where we belong, so we showed the level we can play at, and we need to continue playing like this.”
On his penalty, Saka expressed, “It was important but I didn’t really feel the pressure. I was confident.” Reflecting on Ødegaard’s return, he added, “He’s an unbelievable player. Today, he returned and you can see the big smile on my face. There’s a chemistry we have, I enjoy playing with him. I’m happy he’s back and I hope he stays fit for the rest of the season.”
Arsenal’s performance was a statement, especially as their main rivals, Manchester City, struggle. This win—Sporting’s first home loss in 18 months—reminded everyone of Arsenal’s potential when they are at full strength.
With just three games to go, Arteta’s men are back on track and positioned to challenge for the top spots.
As Manchester City faces difficulties, Arsenal’s resurgence, coupled with Liverpool’s challenges, places them back in contention for major honours. While they are still nine points behind the leaders, Arsenal’s title aspirations remain alive as they continue to find form at the perfect moment.
