Arsenal got back on track in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, as Mikel Arteta’s side made the tricky away trip to face Sevilla and came away with a narrow, but thoroughly deserved, 2-1 victory.
[ MORE: Champions League tables ]
There were questions about their chances in the Champions League after losing to Lens last time out, but Arsenal (6 points) find themselves back atop Group B, a point ahead of Lens and four above Sevilla and PSV Eindhoven at the halfway point. Arsenal will conclude group play with Sevilla and Lens at home, and PSV away.
The Gunners had a decent scoring chance early in the first half, as Gabriel Martinelli was denied by Orjan Nyland after he cut in from the left flank and fired a right-footed shot on target, and that was it for the Gunners until the dying seconds of first-half stoppage time.
Sevilla pushed numbers forward three minutes into added time, when Gabriel Magalhaes booted a cross clear from his own penalty area and found Gabriel Jesus on the outlet. Jesus controlled the ball and dragged it back the other way, opening up the entire field in front of him as Martinelli sprinted through the center of the field and split Sevilla’s last two defenders. Martinelli raced half the length of the field with the ball before rounding Nyland and slotting into an open net.
[ MORE: Champions League schedule ]
The provider on the opener, Jesus turned scorer eight minutes into the second half. Declan Rice found the Brazilian no. 9 with a simple pass wide left of the penalty area, and Jesus immediately went to work. He danced past Marcos Acuña, made his way into the box and picked out the far post with a right-footed curler.
Sevilla hit back in short order, though, as Ivan Rakitic served a corner kick to the far post where Nemanja Gudelj jostled for position and rose above everyone to send a thumping header past David Raya and make it 2-1 with just over an hour ago.
What’s next?
Arsenal will return to action in the Premier League play on Saturday, when they host Sheffield United. Next up in the Champions League is Tuesday’s reverse fixture with Sevilla visiting north London on Nov. 8.
Player ratings - Sevilla vs Arsenal
Sevilla vs Arsenal, final score: 1-2
Goalscorers: Gabriel Martinelli (45'+4), Gabriel Jesus (53'), Nemanja Gudelj (58')
45th minute (+4) - GOAL - Gabriel Martinelli wins one-on-none race before halftime
Gabriel Martinelli strikes at the end of the half. 😤
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 24, 2023
Arsenal’s counter-attack couldn’t have come at a better time. 👏 pic.twitter.com/Qx6ergkt4Z
53rd minute - GOAL - Gabriel Jesus fires far post to make it 2-0 Arsenal
GABRIEL JESUS BANGER. 🚀
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 24, 2023
He has now scored in all three #UCL matches for Arsenal this season. 🔴 pic.twitter.com/QdMUVEGkR5
How to watch Sevilla vs Arsenal live, stream link, start time
Date: Tuesday, October 24
Kick off: 3pm ET
How to watch: Paramount+ and TUDN USA
Sevilla starting lineup
Nyland — Navas, Gudelj, Ramos, Acuña — Soumare, Sow, Rakitic — Lukeabkio, En-Nesyri, Ocampos
Focus on Sevilla
It hasn’t been a vintage start to the season for Sevilla, who lost star goalkeeper Yassine Bounou over the summer. They currently sit midtable in La Liga and have leaked plenty of goals. They’ve drawn their opening two games of the Champions League group stage, at PSV and at home against Lens and that is a pretty decent start. Sevilla are tough to break down, as Real Madrid found out this weekend, and they always seem to deliver something special on a European night on home soil.
Arsenal starting lineup
Raya — White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu — Jorginho, Rice, Odegaard — Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
Focus on Arsenal
Arsenal put in their worst display of the season so far as they somehow rescued a point at Chelsea on Saturday after being 2-0 down heading into the final 15 minutes. That is the sign of a good team and although Arteta was delighted with the fighting spirit his side showed, Chelsea really rattled them and Arsenal were uncharacteristically sloppy in possession. They are still unbeaten in the Premier League this season and Declan Rice continues to deliver goals when they need him most. Injury wise, there are no issues aside from Jurrien Timber being out with a long-term knee issue. It will be intriguing to see if Arteta rotates his lineup around as Tomiyasu, Trossard, Nketiah and Havertz all looked sharp off the bench on Saturday.