Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba were central to Arsenal’s dominant 5-1 win over Sporting Club in the Champions League, keeping Viktor Gyökeres firmly in check throughout the match. Gyökeres, one of the most dangerous strikers in Europe this season, has been in sensational form, even netting a hat trick against Manchester City. Arsenal were well aware of the threat posed by the Swedish striker, and they set about preparing thoroughly to neutralise him. With Gabriel and Saliba in excellent form, it was clear that stopping Gyökeres would be a team effort, and the two centre-backs executed the game plan to perfection.
From the beginning, Gyökeres struggled to get any meaningful chances on goal. His attempts to break through Arsenal’s defence were thwarted at every turn. Whenever he did manage to get a shot away, goalkeeper David Raya was ready to make key saves, ensuring Arsenal’s defensive solidity was not compromised. Gabriel and Saliba held their ground throughout the game, never allowing Gyökeres to find a rhythm or a moment to shine.
Adding a touch of humour to the encounter, Gabriel Magalhães, after scoring Arsenal’s second goal, mimicked Gyökeres’ iconic goal celebration, a moment that was quickly shared across social media. This cheeky celebration became one of the most talked-about images of the match. Gyökeres, upon hearing about Gabriel’s imitation, responded with a lighthearted remark. In an interview with O’Jogo, Gyökeres said, “It’s funny that you like my celebration. Feel free to steal it if you can’t create your own celebration.”
It was a fantastic performance from Arsenal, not just for the result but for the way they shut down one of Europe’s top strikers. Gabriel and Saliba were exceptional, and their efforts allowed the team to play with confidence. This match was a statement of Arsenal’s intent in Europe and showed their defensive strength when facing top-level competition.
ADMIN COMMENT
So here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….
You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.
CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, please contact us through this link…
OT:
Just had to bring this up in reply to Ken as i’ve just seen it concerning the article “Three Reasons Arsenal fans should stop quastioning MA” As going through your comments i can’t help but think there is a hidden/subcocious negative agena towards MA as hard as i try to remain neutral, some of my picks, one of your response to Davi;
1. “You say that Slot has taken over a title challenging team… a team that has finished behind city115 and The Arsenal two years running – Mikel took over a team that saw him win his only trophy and had European football for two decades!!”.
Did Slot also take over a Liverpool side that has also had Eropean football for two decades?
My thoughts; you once agian pointed the negatives of Liverpool and posisitive of Arsenal to carry along your agenda, what ever it might be.
How about ‘Slot taking over a Liverpool team that qualified 3rd for the CL while also competing for the league tiltle and ended up winning the EFL Cup, and played Europa Cup football – Mikel taking over a team that failed to win any trophy, failed to qualify for CL football, and played Europa Cup football?
2. “I think you’ll find that was the case when MA took over and we finished eighth.
There were many of us who said that he wasn’t being judged in the same way as AW and UE, with goalposts being moved to accommodate his mistakes.”
My thoghts; did’nt say if it was the half season or the first full season, so would let this one slide even though i feel it is what i’m thinking.
3. “I agree, a very good question.
As I’ve suggested in the article, it takes ANY manager time to settle in, obtain the players he wants and move on the players he doesn’t think will fit into his plans.
It took MA three years to do this and I believe he had the same scenario as the new Chelsea and Manure managers are facing, both on and off the pitch.
I can’t really answer your question, but we might be able to assess whether others could have done, by watching how those two clubs fare over the same time period.
My personal feeling is that his early mistakes cost him three seasons (8th 8th and 5th) but now, apart from Pep, who has his own problems at the moment, I don’t think so… but he must surely win something this season?!
My thoughts: Please stop puting the first 8, as that is misleading once again. he took over a team in serious decline, bad form and at the bottom half of the table, i think 12th or 14th around December, and brought them back to respectable 8th positiont. His early mistakes cost him only one season not three, and was the second 8th place finish. The only times i’ve critcised Arteta badly was when we finished 8th the following season and recently when he failed to give Nweaneri a chance when odegaard was out. My criticisms of him other than mentioned, has been on the low with more prasise. That is where i still stand, he’s done very well for Arsenal and i believe he can do better. He is also not above fair, unbaised and sentimental critcism as i still do, i don’t agree with Kai as our Striker would prefer Trossard there since we did not get one during the summer than at the wings or as an 8 during Odegaard’s injury when Nweaneri is a clearly better 8.
Conclussion
When fairly put, the way it is or was, shows the reader you are free of bais, sentiments and hidden agenda. If any other available coach would have done better? We can’t say for sure. Apart from his first full season were we seemed to be in a loop, Arteta has improved us every other season, he’s only had one bad season in my opinion and that was the second 8th place finish.
I hope you watched Liverpool vs Madrid last night.
Liverpool is a well oiled machine. The bloke new manager’s total spend in the summer stands at a princely humongous earth shattering whooping grand sum of €10m buying Federico Chiesa who has been injured ever since anyway.
We all know it’s too early to conclude who wins the League but truth is that if Slot wins it this season, even the Kroenkes will begin to wonder if we have peaked under Arteta.
5 years
£800m
Absolute power
Now we’re being told that the amount spent so far doesn’t matter.
Let the excuses stop
Still not a balanced conversation here, with misleading reamarks. Any Manager who takes over Arsenal will not be given the same time as Arteta because just like the liverpool you mentioned this Arsenal is also well oiled machine and i believe just as it took Klop a couple of seasons (4 i believe) to start winning major trophies, this Arsenal will start doing the same.
First, much as I’d like to agree with your point that “[Arteta] must surely win something this season?!”, it’s by no means certain in my opinion – encouraging though the last couple of results/performances have undoubtedly been.
I recall a regular contributor to JA suggesting that Arsenal would be 2024-25 champions because, in effect, “it’s their turn” – presumably after coming so close in the last two seasons. Unfortunately, football doesn’t often work like that. I recall after Wenger’s team won the title in 1997-98 and they were set fair to dominate the league, they actually followed up with three consecutive second places. You never know.
Arteta could be in a similar position if things don’t go well this season in the league, but without having won the title to start with and without the cache that Wenger had acquired by then at the club. It’s the lack of any trophies since 2019 (Community Shield accepted) that has been, and is, a potential weakness in Arteta’s position, in my opinion.
I think KSE will begin to look at Arteta even more closely should Arsenal not be successful in the league again (and owners keep a close eye on their coaches all the time, despite what they may say supportively in public). Of course, winning the CL instead would avert their gaze, I think.
I’m not saying Arteta will be sacked in the worst-case title scenario, but the pressure will really be huge on him in 2025-26 and he’s also just lost a big supporter/friend in Edu, which won’t help.
Liverpool has had a lot of luck this season They’ve played Manu away at the perfect time they’ve played Arsenal away at a great time and now they have City at an ideal time They also had the type of fixtures where you can build up some confidence before facing a difficult run Credit to them they took advanced but compared to us they have had a lot of luck
Took advantage
I don’t agree with that. Liverpool haven’t had that much luck with injuries – for example, their top choice keeper, Alisson, generally regarded as one of the best, has been out for weeks and weeks injured. It was his deputy that save the penalty against RM last night. How would Arsenal have done if it had been Raya out?
Playing other teams at “good times” generally evens out over a season and I’m sure Arsenal will benefit from that at some time before May 2025. You could argue City aren’t benefitting from it now in their poor current run having to play Liverpool next. Swings and roundabouts really.
Bertie
Kelleher is an extremely able GK. Allison might have to look over his shoulder when he returns to fitness
Luck certainly comes into it. Liverpool had ‘favourable’ fixtures at the start and were able to build up confidence. Not all their wins were convincing but of course it’s the points that matter. Watching City flounder- still with a damned good team – shows how important confidence is and how the lack of it can be disastrous
When I read that the Liverpool is an average team I just wonder who those average players actually are. Klopp left them in very good shape. Credit to Slot for not going for big changes – clearly none were needed. He has been quietly effective.
I was at the Emirates for the Liverpool game. We were without Calafiori and Saliba, Partey was drafted on to the right, and then Gabriel was forced off with an injury and as we now know, white was playing and not fully fit. No Odegaard either. Liverpool fielded a strong team – minus Allison of course and were lucky to come away with a draw.
“Kelleher is an extremely able GK” – so that’s a tick for Liverpool in ensuring their squad – in that department at least – is up to the job, isn’t it. Nevertheless, they have still had to do without the services of one of the best – some say the best – GK in the EPL for weeks. My original question still stands, I think – how would Arsenal have done with Raya out that long?
I don’t doubt, as I acknowledged in my original post, that teams play other teams when they are stronger or weaker depending upon circumstances. My point is that it tends to even out over the season. It isn’t unique to any particular team. Just as Arsenal have been affected detrimentally recently and City still are, things could well reverse later on – indeed it may have started already for Arsenal.
Liverpool may have been lucky to come away from The Emirates with a draw, but I suspect strongly that at some time over this season the same sort of “lucky” result will happen to Arsenal again – but to their benefit. As I said before, swings and roundabouts.
This season Liverpool have been relatively less affected than the other contenders up till now. The effect of injuries to key players also need to be considered in terms of the individual’s importance or whether there is a suitable replacement. If Liverpool were to lose either van Dijk or Salah for an extended period it would probably have much more of effect than losing Alisson as they have excellent GK cover.
We have seen that MC losing Rodri for a significant length of time has a much bigger effect than losing De Bruyne despite the latter often being touted as one of the greatest MFs the PL has ever seen.