Arsenal brush aside Sevilla as Trossard and Saka sparkle
Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard (R) celebrates with Bukayo Saka
London (AFP) – Arsenal put on a dominant display against Sevilla to secure a 2-0 victory on Wednesday, putting them in a strong position to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages.
Leandro Trossard opened the scoring in the first half, followed by Bukayo Saka’s goal after the break at the Emirates Stadium.
With three wins out of four games in Group B, Arsenal currently sit at the top, four points ahead of second-placed PSV Eindhoven.
If they secure at least one point from their remaining matches against Lens and PSV, Arsenal will guarantee their place in the last 16.
However, the injury to Saka in the closing stages was a concern for Mikel Arteta.
While Saka had been subjected to multiple fouls before getting injured, Arteta commented that the rough treatment was something he needed to get used to as a winger.
The victory over Sevilla was a much-needed boost for Arsenal after recent domestic defeats, including a League Cup loss against West Ham and their first Premier League defeat at Newcastle.
The controversial VAR decision that awarded Newcastle their winning goal in that match caused Arteta to express his anger and frustration.
Arteta described the decision as “embarrassing” and a “disgrace,” with Arsenal also releasing a statement criticizing the refereeing and VAR errors.
However, there were no VAR controversies in the match against Sevilla, and Arsenal comfortably secured the win against a lackluster Sevilla side.
Arteta praised his team’s aggression and commitment, highlighting their ability to quickly regain possession even when they lost the ball.
He also emphasized the importance of being ruthless and making opponents suffer if Arsenal wants to have a successful Champions League campaign.
Arsenal’s incisive attacks led by Saka and Gabriel Martinelli played a crucial role in their victory.
Trossard’s goal came from a brilliant pass by Jorginho, with Saka providing the assist. Saka then combined with Martinelli to score the second goal.
Arteta showed faith in Trossard by selecting him as the central striker, and the decision paid off as Trossard found the back of the net.
While Kai Havertz had a few attempts, he remained mostly anonymous throughout the match. Fortunately for Arsenal, they have other sources of goals to rely on.
Overall, Arsenal’s performance against Sevilla showcased their dominance and control, putting them in a favorable position to progress in the Champions League.
Sevilla manager Diego Alonso accepted the team’s poor display and looked ahead to their next match against Real Betis, hoping to turn things around.
In conclusion, Arsenal’s victory over Sevilla was a positive response to their recent setbacks, and their promising performance puts them in a strong position to advance in the Champions League.