Trossard and Saka strike to put Arsenal on brink of Champions League knockouts
ON THE BRINK: Arsenal's Bukayo Saka celebrates. Photo credit: John Walton/PA Wire.
Arsenal will have to wait for qualification to the Champions League knockout stages despite defeating Spanish side Sevilla 2-0 to extend their lead at the top of group B.
Goals in either half from Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka ensured Mikel Arteta's men extended their advantage at the top of group B to four points with their third win of the group stage so far.
The Gunners will have to wait another gameweek for their passage to the knockout stages to be confirmed, after PSV Eindhoven defeated RC Lens to leave the north Londoners needing one point to qualify for the Round of Sixteen.
Arsenal started the match fast, and should have gone ahead inside a minute but Kai Havertz misjudged the flight of Gabriel Martinelli's corner and flashed the ball wide of the goal. The Gunners' subpar form of late did little to dampen supporters spirits, with the Emirates in fine voice as Arteta's men continued to dominate the early proceedings.
Sevilla struggled to get going, resorting to fouling the Arsenal players at any given moment. Saka was on the receiving of most of Sevilla's attempts to apprehend the hosts' attack through adverse defensive tactics, much to the dismay of the Gunners supporters.
The intensity of the match began to slow as the hosts continued to dominate possession, with limited chances from both sides in the opening 25 minutes following Arsenal's electric start. Such was the reduction in energy from his side, Arteta showed his eagerness to up the anti as he rushed from his technical area on numerous occasions to get the ball back to his players.
But on 29 minutes, delirium for the Gunners went ahead. Saka was sent charging down the right flank from Jorginho's delightful through-ball, before cutting the ball back to Leandro Trossard to guide the ball past Sevilla goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic to give Arteta's side the lead.
The goal did nothing to improve the visitors' outlook on the match, subdued in a stranglehold by the supremacy of the Arsenal press and their sheer control of the ball. This match was a resumption of the dominance shown by the Gunners in the away fixture, but with little to show for their first half exploits once again, the lack of clear cut chances created left the game on a knife edge as referee István Kovács whistled for the interval.
Arsenal's overall game was much to be impressed with, but their desire for more goals increased as the second half began. Martinelli was at the heart of all things good for the hosts, as in the 51st minute the Brazilian put his lightning quick speed to good use to breeze past Sevilla fullback Juanlu, before lofting an inviting cross deep in the visitors box, but the Spanish side ensured nothing came of it.
Three minutes later Havertz almost opened his Champions League account for the Gunners with a brilliantly curled effort arching towards the top left corner, but as has been the case for the German all campaign, his effort flew marginally wide.
Sevilla began to gain some control of proceedings shortly after the hour, but any hope of a second period revival was shut down 64 minutes in as a moment of brilliance from Saka doubled the north Londoners lead.
Martinelli picked up the ball deep in his own half before threading the ball round the Sevilla defence into the path of Saka, and the Gunners number seven did the rest, chopping inside Adrià Pedrosa before curling his shot into the bottom right corner to the ecstasy of Arteta and the Arsenal faithful.
England manager Gareth Southgate watched on as Saka came off in the 85th minute to a standing ovation from the home crowd after another man of the match performance from the 21-year-old.
Substitutions throughout the second period did little to improve Sevilla's fortunes, with their first shot of the match in the 95th minute subject to ironic cheering from the Arsenal fans to compile a miserable match for the La Liga outfit.
Victory for Arsenal ensured they continue to assert their authority at the top of group B, with only two group stage matches remaining. Sevilla remain winless in the competition with two points, with their qualification chances hanging by a thread.
Raya 6; White 6, Saliba 7, Gabriel 7, Tomiyasu (Zinchenko, HT) 6; Jorginho (Elneny, 90') 7, Rice 7, Havertz 6; Saka (Kiwior, 85') 8, Trossard (Vieira, 81') 7, Martinelli (Nelson, 81') 7.
Ramsdale, Hein, Cedric, Cozier-Duberry, Sagoe Jr.
Dmitrovic 6; Juanlu 6, Bade 6, Gudelj 5, Salas (Ocampos, 76') 6; Fernando 6, Lamela 6, Sow (Rakitic, 65') 6; Jordan (Soumare, 65' (Mariano, 73')) 6, Pedrosa (Nianzou, 76) 6, En-Nesyri 6.
Alberto, Gattoni, Suso, Rafa Mir, Lukebakio, Jesus Navas, Torres.
István Kovács, 6.
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