FULL 90| MINUTES  Sporting CP 1-5 Arsenal: Player ratings as Gunners run riot in Lisbon

Arsenal were excellent in 5-1 victory over Sporting CP

Gunners particularly brilliant in first-half as they took 3-0 lead into half-time

Sporting CP suffer first defeat of the

Arsenal produced a five-star performance in

Arsenal inflicted the first defeat of the season upon Sporting CP on Tuesday night as they thumped the Portuguese champions 5-1 in the Champions League league phase.

Their was a twinkle in the Gunners’ eye from the outset as they sought to make the most of a Sporting team that may just be a little less sure of themselves in the wake of Ruben Amorim’s departure.

Arsenal’s first-half performance was superb, and they were great value for their 3-0 lead. Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring within ten minutes before Kai Havertz tapped home a second. Their dominance lasted the entirety of the half, with the hosts suffocated by the Gunners’ intensity. It was a display reminiscent of their very best over the past two seasons, and the ultimate sign of nature healing was Gabriel heading home the visitors’ third from a corner just before half-time.

However, while we were all basking in the glorious return of Mikel’s glorious Gunners, Goncalo Inacio pulled one back for the hosts immediately after the restart. Suddenly, the duels Arsenal were winning were going the other way, and they were struggling to connect with the efficiency they manifested in the opening 45 minutes. Sporting were on top.

There was a sense that the visitors may have to dig in for the final 30 minutes, but they wrestled back control after Martin Odegaard was brought down in the box, forcing Szymon Marciniak to point to the spot. Bukayo Saka’s penalty was pinpoint.

That really did kill the contest and Arteta was able to make full use of his bench with five substitutes entering the fray. One of those entrants, Leandro Trossard, rounded off a superb Champions League night for Arsenal, adding a fifth with his head.

Here are Arsenal’s player ratings from their 5-1 victory over Sporting CP.

Sporting CP 1-5 Arsenal player ratings

Set-piece FC returned in Lisbon

Goalkeeper & Defenders

David Raya (GK) – 8/10 – No clean sheet, but that shouldn’t take away from an excellent performance. Raya instilled calm throughout and was hand to make a couple of big stops.

Jurrien Timber (RB) – 9/10 – It’s a pleasure wathcing this man go about his work. Ever so assured defensively, although he wasn’t tested too much, and he constantly escaped tight spots in possession. Lovely cross for the opener.

William Saliba (CB) – 8/10 – Viktor Gyokeres did not pass the Saliba test. The pair saw plenty of each other on Tuesday night, but the Frenchman locked up the Swedish hitman in one-on-one situations. Gyokeres’ sole victory arrived 85 minutes into the contest.

Gabriel (CB) – 8/10 – Saliba can’t get all the credit for shunning Gyokeres. Gabriel went stride-for-stride with the Sporting striker at times, too, and was similarly dominant. Nice to see him back on the scoresheet.

Riccardo Calafiori (LB) – 7/10 – There was less Calafiori exuberance in Lisbon, but his defensive display was encouraging. The left-back was controlled with his actions for the most part.