Arsenal delivered a commanding 5-1 win over Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League, but the result was dampened by a potential injury to standout defender Gabriel Magalhaes.
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The Gunners, fresh off a controversial loss to Inter Milan, responded in style with goals from Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Magalhaes giving them a 3-0 lead by halftime.
Sporting briefly clawed back through Gonçalo Inácio, but Bukayo Saka’s penalty and Leandro Trossard’s late strike secured Arsenal’s largest Champions League away victory in over two decades.
Gabriel, who excelled in his duel with Sporting’s Viktor Gyökeres, was forced off in the closing stages with discomfort. Arteta revealed after the match:
“We don’t know because he said he was feeling some discomfort, so I was about to make the change, but we had to adapt and make other substitutions instead.”
A Towering Presence
Gabriel’s performance was pivotal, as he dominated Sporting’s attacking threat and provided his side’s third goal. His partnership with William Saliba has been a cornerstone of Arsenal’s defensive success this season, and losing the Brazilian could disrupt their momentum ahead of a crucial London derby against West Ham this weekend.
Arteta Praises Team Resilience
Mikel Arteta was effusive in his praise for a side that had faced scrutiny after recent poor form.
“Especially against an opponent who hadn’t lost at home in 18 months, this was a huge performance. The determination and fluidity we showed were outstanding.”
Arteta also highlighted the team’s progress since their struggles against Inter Milan earlier this month:
“Today we replicated our performance and were even more efficient in the final third. The team showed immense courage.”
Saka and Odegaard Shine
Bukayo Saka continued his stellar form, converting a penalty to restore Arsenal’s three-goal cushion, while Martin Odegaard’s return from injury injected creativity and control into midfield.
“Having Martin back has made a big difference. The team plays with more fluency and confidence when he’s on the pitch,” Arteta said.
With players returning from injury and newfound belief, Arsenal will hope Gabriel’s knock is not serious as they aim to build on this emphatic European success.
