In a thrilling Champions League clash, Arsenal emerged victorious with a 2-1 win over Sevilla. Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus found the back of the net on either side of halftime, propelling Arsenal to the top of Group B at the midpoint of the pool stage.
Martinelli’s lightning-quick opener, a result of a breakaway from his own half, arrived four minutes into stoppage time at the end of the first period. Speaking about this pivotal moment, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta noted, “We played the game we wanted and had chances to finish it.”
Shortly after the halftime break, Gabriel Jesus secured a second goal for Arsenal, cementing their advantage. Sevilla, initially subdued in the first half, showed significant improvement after halftime and managed to pull a goal back when Nemanja Gudelj headed one home. Arteta commented on the match’s intensity, stating, “Very happy to win, not many teams have done that here in the last 10 years in Europe.”
Despite Sevilla’s valiant efforts, they were unable to find the elusive equalizer, resulting in a 2-1 victory for Arsenal. This hard-fought win propelled Arsenal to the top of the group with six points from their three games.
Lens currently occupies second place with five points, while Sevilla and PSV Eindhoven are tied with two points each. The competitive landscape of Group B promises more excitement as the Champions League progresses.
However, the night was not without its setbacks. Arteta confirmed that Gabriel Jesus had to be substituted in the second half due to an injury concern. He remarked, “He felt something in his hamstring, so we will see in the next few days (how serious it is).”
The game began with Martinelli narrowly missing an opportunity to give Arsenal an early lead. His initial shot on goal was expertly saved by Sevilla’s goalkeeper, Orjan Nyland. However, the warning went unheeded by the home side. Martinelli capitalized on another chance just before the halftime whistle.
This time, he sped away following a clever pass from Gabriel Jesus, skillfully evading the goalkeeper before slotting the ball into the net. Arsenal’s captain, Martin Odegaard, had a chance to extend the lead early in the second half but saw his shot sail over the crossbar.
Arsenal did manage to secure a crucial second goal on 53 minutes, with Gabriel Jesus curling in a shot from a tight angle. This goal further solidified his impressive record of having scored in every Champions League group game this season.
Sevilla, however, remained undeterred and pulled one back five minutes later when Nemanja Gudelj headed in from a corner. Despite numerous chances for Sevilla to level the score, Arsenal’s determined defense and a late miss from Ocampos allowed them to preserve their lead and emerge victorious in this memorable encounter.
