Sporting CP – Arsenal: Right Side Romps Through For Statement Victory (1-5)

Arsenal’s away record had been shaky over recent months. A rocking Estádio José Alvalade should have provided a stern test, but Mikel Arteta utilized his trusted right side to overpower the Portuguese champions.

Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker.

Replacing one of your pillars has been one of football’s greatest dilemmas, especially when their departure comes at a time you least expect.

It's not like Rúben Amorim had been linked to moves away from Lisbon before, but with Sporting CP still holding a 100% record in Liga Portugal, as well as starting the Champions League in incredible form, his decision to depart mid-season still came as a surprise. His successor has been promoted internally: João Pereira started the season managing the B team, after being involved in various roles in the youth teams since 2021. In Pereira, Sporting seem set on sticking to its approach that brought so much success under Amorim.

Mikel Arteta will soon encounter Amorim in the upcoming weeks, but Arsenal travelled to Lisbon in need of a convincing result. Two points away from the top eight, they could do without the two extra games (and unseeded draw) that finishing outside of those places offers. 

Pereira made three changes to the Sporting side that smashed Manchester City in their last Champions League outing. Zeno Debast and Matheus Reis were replaced by Jeremiah St. Juste and Gonçalo Inácio in the defense, whilst Pedro Gonçalves came out for former Tottenham attacker, Marcus Edwards.

Arteta made four changes from the team that beat Nottingham Forest at the weekend. Declan . . .