Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his delight after his Gunners sealed a 5-1 win over Sporting Lisbon at the Estádio José Alvalade. On a night that had an attendance of 47,386, Arsenal showed their class in what had the potential to be a tricky away fixture in the UEFA Champions League.
Speaking to TNT Sports post-match, Arteta was visibly pleased with his side’s performance. “I’m very happy. It’s a big result against a big opponent. We wanted to make that statement,” he said. And make a statement they did, with Arsenal dominating from the outset.
The Gunners were sharp and clinical from the first whistle, with Gabriel Martinelli opening the scoring early, followed by goals from Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhães, Bukayo Saka, and Leandro Trossard. It was a comprehensive victory that displayed their attacking strength, all while the defence stood firm against any pressure Sporting could muster.
“We were really clever, really intelligent, and really efficient, the way we attacked them,” Arteta continued, highlighting the tactical maturity that has been growing in his side. The team was on full throttle, and their attacking fluidity was a joy to watch, particularly after the early goals that sent them into a commanding lead.
However, after Sporting pulled one back through Gonçalo Inácio, Arteta’s men showed resolve, refusing to let the hosts back into the game. “After we conceded, we showed a lot of personality to bring the game back,” said Arteta. “Then we scored the fourth goal and that’s when the game changed again.”
The Gunners didn’t ease up, continuing to push forward, maintaining their dominance. The match saw some brilliant individual performances, particularly from Saka, who was involved in two goals and calmly converted a penalty. For Arteta, it was a team effort that impressed him the most.
“You have to enjoy it. When you play in this competition against these teams you have to enjoy it,” said Arteta. “What I loved about this team is the way they flowed. They played with purpose.”
This performance, especially after a challenging start to their Champions League campaign, has shown what Arsenal are capable of. Arteta echoed the importance of consistency in the pursuit of trophies, noting: “If you want to be challenging for big trophies, you have to be consistent.”
With this statement win, Arsenal have firmly set their sights on the top of the group, and Arteta will hope that this result boosts their momentum as they continue to challenge in both domestic and European competitions.
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