Arsenal vs Sevilla match report
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal squad travelled to Spain on Tuesday night to face off against Europa League reigning champions Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium for our second away day of the Champions League campaign.
Walking out to a sea of white and a deafening Sevilla home crowd, Arsenal began the game on the back foot. Sevilla came out with a lot of energy and our players looked a little surprised at how much pressure Sevilla were putting on the midfield. Sevilla held Arsenal in our own half for a lot of the half. We did have a few counterattacking chances but weren’t able to find the target until we were well into the first half’s extra time.
Sevilla began an attack down the right wing and managed to cross the ball into the box but was cleared out by the head of Saliba onto the feet of Gabriel Jesus, who turned his back to the goal and somehow passed the ball through to him. Martinelli was far too fast for the Sevilla defence and went steaming ahead towards goal, side stepping the keeper and burying the ball into the back of the Sevilla net. A clean and composed finish from Martinelli and a perfect through ball from Jesus, put Arsenal in the driving seat going into half time.
In the second half, Arsenal looked to be a lot more confident and came out with some needed energy. Holding the ball up well and having a lot more possession than the first half. Only 7 minutes into the second half and Arsenal made it 2. After a long ball out from David Raya was cleared out of the Sevilla box to the feet of Declan Rice who spotted the run of Jesus on the overlap, who cut into the box, dropped his shoulder and curled the ball into the top right-side netting, putting Arsenal 2-0 up. A lovely finish from Jesus and a great assist from Rice.
Only 4 minutes later though, Sevilla managed to get one back. Starting from a set piece corner, the ball was whipped into the middle of the box and landed on the head of Sevilla’s Nemanja Gudelj, who fired the ball into the back of Raya’s net, getting them well and truly back into the game with over 30 minutes to go.
Sevilla then came on the front foot and looked like they were going to throw everything at trying to get an equaliser. The game was very physical from the start but began to get a bit messy out there and Arsenal fans would have been stressing over injures etc… but we managed to hold on. Sevilla looked to dominate those last 20 minutes but Arsenal’s defence stayed strong and saw out the win.
Walking away with all three points and on top of our Group, Arsenal looking more and more likely to progress into the round of 16.
What’s your thoughts Gooners?
Daisy Mae
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It was a very vital win we got. Sets us up for a good finish in the group. There are still tough matches like the PSV away.
I want the Odegaard – ESR competition to be back. Throw Vieira in the mix as well.
Had Sevilla used Pochettino’s tactic, I think Jorginho wouldn’t have been able to control the game from our deep midfield area and the supplies to our attackers would’ve been cut
I’m sure we’ll complete the group stage as the table leader and win against Sheffield/ West Ham. It’s the game at St James Park that I’m worried about, because Howe seems to be a smart manager
Eddie how a smarter manager? This interesting
He used Dan Burn in the LB position, instead of playing a more attacking LB like Matt Targett or signing Kieran Tierney
He also replaced Saint-Maximin with Gordon, despite Saint-Maximin’s dribbling ability
Tactics require the players ability to implement on the field. Pochettino had coached his players physically to cope with his hard running and high intensity tactics. Not something every team can do at will. Spanish teams don’t really do that because their hotter climate will burn them out faster. Especially at seaside Seville.
Hi Mike, Sevilla is so hot because it is on top of a mountain, not on the seaside!
Arsenal were very efficient and professional in the game.
The quality of the bench was important once again.
Long may this continue
Excellent performance and a great win.
To go to Seville and win is something few teams manage. All players and the manager can be proud.
That’s 3 goals we have conceded this season from corners to the near post..We need to deploy Gabriel to command this area and use Rice and Saliba in the centre of the box.
Seville scored because Jesus unable to stop his much taller opponent who is a Serbian terrier and White couldn’t reach the ball with his jump. Perhaps a change in personnel markings during set pieces. Such tactics can be improved over time.
Arsenal may look more likely to progress from the group stages but our slow build up play and lack of shots on goal will ultimately see us out of the CL shortly after. We need more tempo in midfield if we want to push on this season and win things. However, the result last night was magnificent. COYG!!