Mikel Arteta admits he will have to play a waiting game after Gabriel Magalhaes was forced off during the closing stages of Arsenal’s 5-1 win over Sporting Lisbon.
After a narrow, controversial defeat against Inter earlier this month, the Gunners got their Champions League campaign back on track with a statement victory.
Early goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz settled the nerves and with Martin Odegaard back in the team, Arteta’s side look a totally different proposition to the team that struggled for goals and fluency in the absence of their skipper who missed 12 games due to injury in October and November.
Gabriel’s header on the stroke of half-time looked to have settled the contest but Sporting found a route back into the match shortly after the break as Arsenal switched off from a corner and allowed Goncalo Inacio to pull a goal back.
Bukayo Saka’s 65th minute penalty, however, restored the three goal cushion before substitute Leandro Trossard put the seal on his side’s biggest away win the competition in 21 years.
There was a moment of concern late on when the outstanding Gabriel, who relished and comprehensively won his battle with Viktor Gyokeres, left the field late on and was replaced by Jakob Kiwior.
The Gunners travel to West Ham on Saturday evening for a London derby and will not want to be without their Brazilian tower of power who has formed such an effective partnership with William Saliba at the heart of Arsenal’s defence.
Explaining the late change, Arteta said: ‘We don’t know because he said he was feeling some discomfort so I was about to make the change of Ras [Raheem Sterling] but I couldn’t make the sub and we had to make other ones.’
Arteta, meanwhile, was full of pride for a team that have been relentlessly questioned in recent weeks following a poor run of form that threatened to derail their campaign.
‘For sure, especially against the opponent that we played in their home, I don’t think they’ve lost a game in 18 months,’ said Arteta when asked if he was pleased with his side’s display.
‘They’ve been in top form, they did better than anyone they played here, so to play to the level, with the determination, the purpose, and the fluidity that we’ve done today, very pleased.
‘It’s true that the result is very different by the performance, and as well the intensity of the opponent that we faced when we played Inter.
‘I was so pleased with what I saw, and I knew that in that pathway, good things were going to happen in Europe.
‘Today we’ve been able to do that and replicate it and be even more efficient in the opposition half.
‘And, very pleased because the team played with so much courage, because they are so good. and watching them live, I realised how good they are.’
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