Sevilla 1-2 Arsenal (Gudelj 58′ | Martinelli 45+4′, Jesus 53′)
RAMON SANCHEZ-PIZJUAN STADIUM — Arsenal got their Champions League campaign back on track with Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus making the difference against European specialists Sevilla.
With Lens held at home by PSV Eindhoven, the Gunners have moved to the top of Group B ahead of back-to-back home games next month.
Sevilla have the oldest team in the Champions League this season and a creaking back four with an average age of 34 always looked like a potential match against a youthful, dynamic Arsenal attack and so it proved just before half-time.
The hosts survived an early scare when Martinelli was unable to squeeze an effort past Orjan Nyland – the ex-Aston Villa keeper of goal-line technology failure fame – after breezing beyond a 37-year-old Sergio Ramos, but they failed to heed that warning.
With virtually the last action of a lively opening 45 minutes, Martinelli darted between Sevilla’s centre-backs to latch onto a Jesus pass, composed himself and rounded Nyland before tapping into an empty net.
It looked a simple task, but Martinelli did well to not overthink it given how much time he had to plot his finish. The setup from Jesus, meanwhile, was world-class: an exquisite Johan Cruyff turn to wriggle away from two defenders, followed by a through ball weighted to perfection.
It was an opportunely timed goal, coming just after Sevilla’s first big opportunity had been squandered by Youssef En-Nesyri. Ramos initiated the move with an astute interception and found Lucas Ocampos who in turn slipped in the Moroccan but his low shot skidded away from the far post.
Jesus turned from provider to scorer to double Arsenal’s lead shortly after the restart, whipping an effort majestically into the top corner. Outstanding as Jesus’ contribution had been he needed that moment after lacking composure and cutting edge from a near identical position earlier in the game.
Sevilla are notoriously resilient, particularly in front of their boisterous supporters, and just when it looked as though the game was getting away from them they found a way to make things awkward for their visitors, Nemanja Gudelj reducing the deficit with a thumping header.
From then on it was a battle. Arsenal switched to streetwise mode in a manner that would have drawn begrudging respect from Ramos, eking out time with one exaggerated injury after another.
"Oh, that's special!"
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Gabriel Jesus doubles Arsenal's lead with a spectacular finish#UCL pic.twitter.com/v6XxsO441u
Until the flurry of goals the main talking point was David Raya once again, with Mikel Arteta’s new No 1 making a nervy start to the contest with two unconvincing passes out of his area that invited Sevilla to swarm into the final third. And in second half stoppage time his heart was in his mouth when a punch from a cross ended up floating in slow motion onto the roof of his net. With Aaron Ramsdale available for selection again following the birth of his son, this debate will rumble on.
Arteta will be unconcerned by such trivialities. When the draw was made, Sevilla away looked like Arsenal’s toughest assignment. Regardless of their inconsistent La Liga form and recent managerial change, Sevilla always raise their game in Europe as Manchester United found to their cost in April.
Arsenal are making a habit of ending on the right side of fine margins and they did so again; mission accomplished.
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