Match ends, Arsenal 2, Sevilla 0.
![Leandro Trossard scores for Arsenal against Sevilla](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/624/cpsprodpb/009B/production/_131655100_gettyimages-1771536714.jpg)
Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka scored as Arsenal claimed a comfortable Champions League victory over lacklustre Sevilla.
Trossard, who started as number nine with Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah both injured, swept the Gunners in front in the 29th minute.
Saka clinched the three points in the 64th minute, racing away from the defence before slotting home.
Arsenal top Group B on nine points from four games, while Sevilla are bottom of the table.
The Spanish side, who won the Europa League last season, are still looking for their first win in this Champions League campaign.
They were comprehensively outplayed by the hosts, who took a deserved lead when Trossard finished Saka’s low cross after the England winger was set away by Jorginho’s fine through-ball.
Saka turned from provider to finisher with a composed second goal, having been played through by Gabriel Martinelli.
“I’m really happy with the performance from the team,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told TNT Sports.
“They showed aggression and commitment. Even when we lost the ball we were incredibly good to get it back. It’s hard in Europe to control it how we did.”
The game ended on a concerning note for Arsenal as Saka limped off with five minutes left after twisting his ankle, however Arteta said it was only a “knock”.
PSV’s 1-0 victory over Lens denied Arsenal the chance to clinch a place in the last 16 with two matches to spare.
But Arteta’s men will qualify with a point from either of their final two group matches against Lens or PSV.
Trossard fronts up as Gunners end wobble
Following a strong start to the season, the last week has been testing for Arsenal. Back-to-back losses included the controversial 1-0 defeat at Newcastle, after which Arteta said the refereeing decision to allow the winner was “embarrassing” and a “disgrace”.
The Gunners has also had to deal with mounting injuries – Nketiah missed out with an ankle knock to join Jesus on the sidelines, leaving Trossard to lead the line. Captain Martin Odegaard was also absent again.
Trossard, however, eased worries about Arsenal’s forward strength with his goal and performance, and is ready to play the role again if needed.
“When I saw Jorginho on the ball I knew he would put it in behind for Saka,” the Belgian said of his opener. “It’s a great team goal and it set us up for the rest of the game.
“My biggest quality is that I can go on both feet. It doesn’t really matter for me if I play wide or inside. I have played in multiple positions in my career and it has helped me a lot.”
Injuries left Arsenal without a full bench, and there were also questions about the form of some senior players who did feature.
Kai Havertz has been a target for supporter ire – and he spurned a simple chance to hand Arsenal the lead inside a minute, heading a corner wide when unmarked five yards out.
The German also lacked conviction shortly after half-time when fed by Saka on the edge of the area following a counter-attack, but having his shot blocked.
Havertz came closer on 55 minutes when curling a fierce 18-yard effort just wide.
What Arteta needed was a straightforward night against out-of-form opposition – and against a pliant Sevilla side, he got it.
Sub-par Sevilla provide no threat
Sevilla are top seeds in Group B in name only. Sat 15th in La Liga, with two wins from 11 league games and just four points above the relegation zone, they now face a challenge to even drop into the Europa League.
Their tactic to sit deep and wait out Arsenal’s attacking threat fell apart within half an hour and they offered little else going forward – their only shot on target came in the seventh minute of second half stoppage time.
Sevilla’s evening was summed up by Boubakary Soumare coming on as a second-half substitute, getting booked for a foul, then injuring himself in a sliding tackle and going off after just eight minutes.
They have now failed to win any of their last nine away matches in the Champions League, and have not triumphed in England since beating Manchester United in the 2017-18 season.
The Gunners, meanwhile, have not lost at home in the group stage since September 2015 against Olympiakos, going unbeaten in the past seven fixtures.
More pertinently they have now won for the first time in three games, ending a mini-wobble.
“After the upset in the cup and on the weekend, a club like Arsenal can’t be losing three games in a row,” stand-in captain Declan Rice told TNT Sports. “The manager made that clear.
“We love it. You see how passionate Mikel Arteta is. He’s living the game through us. He’s so energetic. It really fires us up for the game.”
Line-ups
Arsenal
Formation 4-3-3
- 22Raya
- 4White
- 2Saliba
- 6Gabriel
- 18TomiyasuSubstituted forZinchenkoat 45′minutesBooked at 81mins
- 29Havertz
- 20JorginhoSubstituted forElnenyat 90′minutes
- 41RiceBooked at 85mins
- 7SakaSubstituted forKiwiorat 85′minutes
- 19TrossardSubstituted forFábio Vieiraat 81′minutes
- 11MartinelliSubstituted forNelsonat 81′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Ramsdale
- 15Kiwior
- 17Cédric Soares
- 21Fábio Vieira
- 24Nelson
- 25Elneny
- 31Hein
- 35Zinchenko
- 45Cozier-Duberry
- 71Sagoe
Sevilla
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Dmitrovic
- 26SánchezBooked at 71mins
- 22Badé
- 6Gudelj
- 27SalasSubstituted forOcamposat 76′minutesBooked at 77mins
- 8JordánSubstituted forSoumaréat 65′minutesBooked at 66minsSubstituted forMarianoat 73′minutes
- 20Reges
- 17Lamela
- 18SowSubstituted forRakiticat 65′minutes
- 3PedrosaSubstituted forNianzouat 76′minutes
- 15En-Nesyri
Substitutes
- 2Gattoni
- 5Ocampos
- 7Fernández Sáenz de la Torre
- 9Mir
- 10Rakitic
- 11Lukebakio
- 12Mariano
- 14Nianzou
- 16Navas
- 21Torres
- 24Soumaré
- 31Flores
- Referee:
- István Kovács
- Attendance:
- 60,024
Live Text
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Second Half ends, Arsenal 2, Sevilla 0.
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Attempt saved. Mariano Díaz (Sevilla) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Oleksandr Zinchenko (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Tanguy Nianzou (Sevilla).
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Corner, Sevilla. Conceded by Jakub Kiwior.
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Foul by Kai Havertz (Arsenal).
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Juanlu Sánchez (Sevilla) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Kai Havertz (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Loïc Badé (Sevilla).
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Substitution, Arsenal. Mohamed Elneny replaces Jorginho.
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Offside, Arsenal. Gabriel Magalhães tries a through ball, but Kai Havertz is caught offside.
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Fábio Vieira (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Mariano Díaz (Sevilla).
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Substitution, Arsenal. Jakub Kiwior replaces Bukayo Saka because of an injury.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Declan Rice (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card.
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Delay in match because of an injury Bukayo Saka (Arsenal).
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Bukayo Saka (Arsenal).
![](https://m.files.bbci.co.uk/modules/bbc-morph-sport-player-rater-view/4.0.12/images/placeholder.png)
Player of the match
Gabriel MartinelliGabriel Martinelli
Sevilla
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Squad number1Player nameDmitrovic
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Squad number26Player nameSánchez
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Squad number20Player nameFernando
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Squad number10Player nameRakitic
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Squad number22Player nameBadé
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Squad number17Player nameLamela
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Squad number8Player nameJordán
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Squad number15Player nameEn-Nesyri
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Squad number27Player nameSalas
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Squad number3Player namePedrosa
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Squad number18Player nameSow
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Squad number5Player nameOcampos
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Squad number6Player nameGudelj
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Squad number12Player nameMariano
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Squad number14Player nameNianzou
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Squad number24Player nameSoumaré
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