Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu, Jorginho, Rice, Havertz, Saka, Martinelli, Trossard
Subs: Ramsdale, Hein, Kiwior, Cedric, Vieira, Nelson, Elneny, Zinchenko, Cozier-Duberry, Sagoe Jr
Arsenal made it three wins from four Champions League games after beating Sevilla 2-0 at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, thanks to goals from Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka.
Mikel Arteta made one change to the side that lost against Newcastle on Saturday with Trossard coming in to replace Eddie Nketiah, who was absent with an ankle issue.
Arsenal could have been ahead inside the opening minute when Kai Havertz was left totally unmarked from a corner, only for the German to mistime his effort and head wide from six yards out.
There was another chance for Gabriel moments later who headed another set piece wide, before Bukayo Saka curled a free kick over despite being in a good position from 25 yards out.
The Gunners were turning the screw at this point and with Sevilla penned in their penalty area, Ben White and Jorginho also had attempts at goal but neither were able to keep their shots on target – instead both sailed over the crossbar.
Having dominated the match until that point, the hosts’ pressure would eventually tell on the half-hour mark when Leandro Trossard finished a low Bukayo Saka cross, after he was brilliantly found by Jorginho through the lines. 1-0.
Both Saka and Martinelli were significant threats in the first half and continued to beat their men – Martinelli especially – who found himself by the byline six or seven times but lacked that all important final ball.
With Sevilla pressing higher in the second half, gaps began to appear and Havertz almost doubled the lead with a rasping effort from the edge of the box that just whistled past the post.
However, Arsenal didn’t wait much longer for their second and it came from Saka, who was freed into open space by Martinelli before cutting inside Adria Pedrosa and burying his strike into the far corner. 2-0.
Arsenal almost made it 3-0 shortly after but Havertz was inches away from heading home a Ben White cross, before Oleksandr Zinchenko stung the gloves of Sevilla goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović with a fiercely struck volley from 20 yards.
The visitors had their first and only opening of the night when Mariano Diaz eased William Saliba under the ball and ran through on goal, only for Gabriel to intercept his cutback to spare his partners blushes.
Arteta’s men managed the game from that point forward with Reiss Nelson and Fabio Vieira both coming on for Trossard and Martinelli, before Saka was forced off with another injury after going down without contact – he was replaced by Jakub Kiwior.
With PSV beating Lens in Eindhoven, their hopes of qualifying into the knockout stages tonight were postponed but this was a positive night for Arsenal who bounced back from defeat impressively.
Sevilla ended the night with one shot which summed them up – despite a late VAR check for a Fabio Vieira handball – while the Gunners sit pretty four points clear atop of Group B.
Back to winning ways
I enjoyed the combinations and link up play going forward. Trossard did excellent in the first half in the forward role, awareness, intelligence, timing, technical ability. All vital to our attack and what we have been missing too much this season.
Eddie hasn’t shown too many of those traits so far has he.. Is this too simple for Mikel or does he see something nobody else does? Trossard’s impact on games in limited minutes compared to the indulgence Eddie gets. It’s night and day. Yes Sevilla were poor but Leo should be starting from now on without doubt. Adds so much more to our attack.
Exactly the same thing happened last season. Nketiah was dropped, Trossard came into the 9 and we played some of our best, most fluid attacking football of the season. Here’s to history repeating.
Reminder it’s the same Nketiah who did a hat trick the other day
But why is the level of refeering at the Champions League so considerably higher than Premier Leagues’. No drama or anything. Just very professional, and about the football!
The ref was kind of crap though to be honest.
Because our refs are shit.
Most refs are shit, but ours are also corrupt and pointlessly arrogant.
Dunno about that. There was no drama because we were winning anyhow, but the linesmen kept giving balls to Sevilla which went off their players and we got a bunch of pretty ridiculous yellows. Could’ve easily gone the wrong way if we didn’t put in such a dominant performance.
Can we not talk about refs for one day, sheesh
Anthony Taylor is back and will ref the City v Chelsea game so that should be very funny.
Guess u didn’t see the United game
Oh Saka 🫣
Comfortable.
Saka is so crucial to the way we play football.
Top football IQ and usage of body.
I see why arteta is always reluctant to sub or not play him.
Again RICE! What a player.
Tomi top class! I hope he’s not injured.
Harvetz …Will get there someday
Top guys SABI_GABI!! the best defensive pairing since those Italian behemoth.
Top team performance
Sabi and Gabi are certainly good fellas.
“As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a Gabster…”
Can definitely see Zinchenko in the Joe Pesci role. “You think I’m funny? Funny how, like a clown? Do I amuse you?”
Much improved attacking performance. People will say it’s only Sevilla and they are struggling domestically, but going back to our principals meant we were impossible to live with.
There have been some questions asked over Saka and to a lesser extent Martinelli lately, wondering how we get the best out of them. Tonight we had the simple answer; play with them like we did last season. Play with pace, get the ball to them early, high up the pitch and with plenty of support. It’s probably as simple as that though having a creative CF helps too.
Afraid there’s not that much about this match that can teach us about how to play in the league, English teams just don’t give our forwards nearly as much space to get in behind like they just did against the Spaniard, it’s just a constant low block except against the top clubs, and against those we get pressed really hard and haven’t yet found a great way to deal with it this season and get the ball through midfield to those guys up front.
To be fair we faced all that last season and, in my opinion, dealt with it better. Basically, I think we’ve been a little bit too cautious in the prem and that’s having a knock on effect on our attackers, specifically our wingers.
The problem in the main has been the centre forward position. To click we need a centre forward with the technical ability, intelligent movement and awareness of those around him, ie saka martinelli odegarrd to combine on the same wavelength and basically frighten the life out of the defence as we did in lots of games last season when Jesus played. It’s such a shame he’s so injury prone but for me trossard offers something similar and it was on show again tonight.
Agreed, we do look a lot more fluid with Jesus or Trossard up top as opposed to Nketiah. Something for Arteta to think about going forwards.
My sense is in the PL our wingers get automatically doubled up when they receive the ball and Sevilla left them one on one which most teams in the PL have learned you cannot do without getting roasted.
That was like our easiest game this season. Soumare’s disinterested performance was the perfect metaphor for them. Came on, wasn’t interested in playing, injured himself making a stupid foul.
White’s hair is back to black
Absolutely dominated them. Martinelli world class. Hope Saka only has a knock. I think this is the competition Mikel is targeting this year.. who knows…COYG
Comfortable win but lack of chances created is still left wanting. Remember we dismantled Sheffield then immediately lost to West Ham and Newcastle and barely created..this game spoke more about how bad Sevilla are than how good we are
It was a comfortable 2-0 in the CL. Just enjoy it. The last two games are done and dusted and you can’t win them all.
Nice goals! I’m in the mood for a song.
♫♬Wonderful, Wonderful Copenhagen … ♫♬
Well earned win after 2 losses. Onwards and upwards!
Kai Havertz: Excellent in tight spaces, Can lock horns with the CBs, can play back to goal, can run in behind, great pace, works his butt off, wins his duels, great in air, tactically disciplined. Really deserves more respect
A comfortable win was just what the doctor ordered, even if Sevilla were a bit sh*t.
Gotta feel for their right-back though. He’ll be having nightmares of a young Brazilian repeatedly running through him and instantly turning him into well-cooked meat.