RAMPANT Arsenal beat Sporting Lisbon badly in the Champions League and even made fun of their star scorer Viktor Gyokeres by copying his celebration.
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The Gunners had one of their best European away days in recent memory, scoring three goals in the first 45 minutes in Lisbon. Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel all scored goals.
Arsenal ran riot with a convincing win over Sporting
Arsenal ran riot with a convincing win over SportingCredit: Getty
Bukayo Saka grabbed yet another goal and an assist
Bukayo Saka grabbed yet another goal and an assist
Defending player Gabriel from Brazil scored the third goal with a header right before halftime, putting Sporting on their knees. Gyokeres then did his famous “mask” act.
It shows how confident and cocky this Arsenal team is now that they are fully healthy and no longer dealing with injuries. They put on a show that should make their opponents in this competition take notice.
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Even though Sporting got back on track with a shot from Goncalo Inacio in the 47th minute, Mikel Arteta’s team responded with a brutal penalty from Bukayo Saka in the 65th minute and a late goal from Leandro Trossard.
The North Londoners have been interested in Gyokeres on several occasions. He came into this game as one of the most dangerous goal scorers on the continent, with 24 goals in 17 games for Sporting so far this season.
Three of them came in a 4-1 win over Manchester City at the Estadio Jose Alvalade earlier this month, when boss Ruben Amorim was in charge. Amorim is now at Manchester United.
But the 26-year-old has more questions than answers after this one.
Gabriel Martinelli gave the Gunners the perfect start
Gabriel Martinelli gave the Gunners the perfect startCredit: Getty
The Brazilian was all smiles as he did his cheeky celebration
The Brazilian was all smiles as he did his cheeky celebrationCredit: AP
Kai Havertz also tapped in early on
Kai Havertz also tapped in early onCredit: Reuters
Gabriel powered home a header from a corner
Gabriel powered home a header from a cornerCredit: Getty
William Saliba and Gabriel, a pair of center backs, made it feel like men vs. boys at times.
In the first minute of the game, the Sporting fans sang a translated version of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” which showed off their great singing skills.
But those sweet sounds quickly turned into jeers as Arsenal did things their way, putting pressure on Sporting early on and getting on their nerves.
Following an unnecessary fight that knocked Havertz out before the throw-in, Ousmane Diomande was given a yellow card in the fourth minute.
And three minutes later, the first goal came from another throw-in.
Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Thomas Partey, and Jurrien Timber all played parts in the brilliantly complicated move. Timber squared it up for Martinelli and made it easy for him to tap in.
The artist Arteta hit the air. He wanted his team to get off to the best possible start because they hadn’t scored in four European away days before.
Sporting came back, but Saliba and Gabriel, who played together as “meat and two vegetables,” did a great job of marking big Swede Gyokeres.
Right now, Gyokeres may be one of the best shooters on the continent, but when he went up against a world-class defense duo, he fell far short.
out-thought, out-muscled, and beat.
He skulked around for most of the first half like a disturbed kid whose ball had been stolen by bigger kids.
His mood got worse because Arsenal kept getting more complicated.
Partey chipped the ball over the Sporting defense and Saka grabbed it. The ball went through the legs of goalie Franco Israel and into the goal.
Another goalless finish, this time for Havertz, which shocked Sporting.
They were beating up on a team that had won 17 of their first 19 games this season across all categories.
Then, the Sporting fans chose to use the burnt-out fireworks from Bonfire Night to give everyone within five miles the most shocking show ever.
But it didn’t do much to wake up their favorite Sporting. A sign that said “The Lion’s heart” also came out.
This show didn’t have much of that. The people who were roaring were the guests.
And the hosts didn’t have many or any answers for the attacks Arsenal kept making.
Saka fired in from the penalty spot
Saka fired in from the penalty spotCredit: Reuters
Leandro Trossard made no mistake with his simple header
Leandro Trossard made no mistake with his simple headerCredit: Reuters
Martin Odegaard was at his purring best for Mikel Arteta’s side
Martin Odegaard was at his purring best for Mikel Arteta’s sideCredit: Getty
Viktor Gyokeres was not given a sniff by the Arsenal defenders
Viktor Gyokeres was not given a sniff by the Arsenal defendersCredit: Getty
Saka collected the player of the match award
Saka collected the player of the match awardCredit: Getty
Sporting fans set off fireworks during the first half
Sporting fans set off fireworks during the first halfCredit: Getty
Supporters also set off flares and smoke bombs
Supporters also set off flares and smoke bombsCredit: EPA
Before the break, Arteta would have liked to score another goal to show that they were in full charge. He quickly understood.
The whistling home end didn’t like how slowly Rice hit Gabriel with the whip in the corner, but when he did, it was always going to hit him in the head.
That kind of move can’t be stopped when it’s done right, but Sporting didn’t mark at all.
Within 45 minutes, Arsenal had doubled their Champions League score, while Gyokeres didn’t look like he would be able to add to the five goals he already had in the tournament.
When the halftime whistle went, Gabriel made fun of the Swedish player’s linked-finger celebration. In anger, Gyokeres threw the ball from his own half into an empty net.
It wasn’t even half-time yet when Sporting got their first real goal.
David Raya had to make his first big save on a Hidemasa Morita shot, but he couldn’t stop Inacio from putting on from the corner that followed.
Arsenal turned it back up when Diomande took down Odegaard in the box and Saka scored from 12 yards out. This made the Sporting fans louder.
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