Sporting CP - Arsenal Live - Champions League: Football Scores ...

FIVE-STAR ARSENAL MAUL SPORTING IN LISBON

Five-star Arsenal secured their first UEFA Champions League away win of the season with a thumping 5-1 triumph at a previously unbeaten Sporting Lisbon.

The Gunners had failed to score in their last two European matches on the road but made the early breakthrough when Gabriel Martinelli tucked in Jurrien Timber’s inviting, low ball on seven minutes.

Sporting roared to a 4-1 victory over Manchester City earlier this month, but a repeat of the heroics that capped Ruben Amorim’s final home match in charge of the Lions prior to joining Manchester United, never looked likely.

Arsenal were utterly dominant and doubled their lead on 22 minutes when Kai Havertz touched in Bukayo Saka’s stabbed pass from the right.

The visitors then moved out of sight on the stroke of half time when Gabriel headed in Declan Rice’s left-wing corner.

Sporting’s new coach, Joao Pereira would have read the riot-act at the break and he got an instant response as Goncalo Inacio guided home a right-wing corner within two minutes of the restart.

Arsenal weathered a mini storm but regained their three-goal cushion on 65 minutes when Saka converted a penalty after Martin Odegaard was tumbled in the area.

Substitute Leandro Trossard then completed the rout with a follow-up header from Mikel Merino’s saved shot eight minutes from time.

The result moves Arsenal into the top eight in the revamped Champions League standings with 10 points from five matches. Sporting have the same record but drop to ninth as a result of an inferior goal difference.

Next up, Arsenal visit West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday evening.