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Bukayo Saka scored his second Champions League goal of the season against Sporting Bukayo Saka said "this is where we belong" after Arsenal got back to winning ways in the Champions League with a resounding victory over Sporting at Estadio Jose Alvalade. Mikel Arteta's side were comfortable throughout, in what could have been a tricky away fixture, as Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel, Saka and Leandro Trossard all scored. The Gunners registered as many goals at Sporting as they managed in their previous eight Champions League away matches combined, in a result that lifts them to seventh in the table. "We've shown the level we can play at, " Saka said. "We know they haven't lost here this season but we believed in ourselves. "Everyone was top, I'm really proud of all the boys today. " Martinelli tapped home from Jurrien Timber's low cross as Arteta's side went in front early on. They doubled the lead in similar fashion, Saka getting in behind the Sporting defence and firing the ball across the box for Havertz to prod in from close range. Gabriel scored his first Champions League goal on the stroke of half-time, powering in a header from a Declan Rice corner. Shortly after the break Goncalo Inacio got a goal back for Sporting with a smart left-footed strike but it was a mere consolation for the hosts. Ousmane Diomande was lucky to avoid a second yellow card when he went straight through the back of Martin Odegaard and conceded a penalty. Saka scored the resulting spot-kick, whipping it into the bottom corner. Mikel Merino's fierce strike from the edge of the area was then parried by home goalkeeper Franco Israel into the path of Trossard, who headed into an empty net for Arsenal's fifth. This video can not be played Players returning to fitness have raised Arsenal's levels - Arteta Arteta spoke ahead of the match about wanting his players to make a Champions League statement by recording a big win against Sporting, and they duly obliged. After the win, he said: "I'm very happy. It's a big result against a big opponent. We wanted to make that statement. "When you play in this competition against these teams you have to enjoy it. What I loved about this team is the way that they flowed. They played with purpose. "If you want to be challenging for big trophies you have to be consistent. " Martinelli's goal, recorded at six minutes 43 seconds, was Arsenal's fastest in the competition since Theo Walcott netted against Basel in September 2016 (06: 42). Saka was in fine form on the right wing, providing the assist for Arsenal's second goal before converting from the spot as he registered his 11th goal involvement in the Champions League (six goals, five assists). It is the second time that Arsenal have scored three goals in the first half of a Champions League away game, previously beating Galatasaray 4-1 in December 2014. Arteta was able to withdraw key players Rice, Martinelli and Odegaard as his side cruised to a brilliant victory on the road. The Gunners were winless in their last five away games in the competition (drawn two, lost three) but they blew Sporting away with their fast start and completely dominated from the first whistle. This video can not be played Sporting 1-5 Arsenal: Leon Osman reacts to Arsenal’s big win in the Champions League Sporting's last home match in the Champions League was a superb 4-1 win over Manchester City under former boss Ruben Amorim but there was no repeat of that performance against Arsenal. The home side's incredible unbeaten run of 17 wins and one draw in all competitions since the start of the season was ended in emphatic fashion by the north London side. Viktor Gyokeres, who scored a hat-trick against City, was left frustrated as he failed to find a way past the Arsenal defence. The Swedish striker fired a free-kick over the bar and had a strike from the edge of the area well saved by David Raya when he went through on goal. Raya made several fine saves, tipping over teenager Geovany Quenda's shot and getting down low to his left to push Morten Hjulmand's strike past the post. In stoppage time, Hjulmand had another strike tipped over the bar by Raya, who palmed away Conrad Harder's effort from the resulting corner. After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 26th November 2024 at 21: 57 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Tiago Filipe Monteiro Teixeira Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1 Manager: Mikel Arteta Formation: 4 - 3 - 3 Manager: Tiago Filipe Monteiro Teixeira Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1 Manager: Mikel Arteta Formation: 4 - 3 - 3 UEFA Champions League All competitions All competitions All competitions This will be the seventh meeting between Sporting CP and Arsenal in European competition, while the Portuguese side are still looking for their first victory over the Gunners (D4 L2). Each of the last three meetings between the two have ended level, however. If Sporting CP fail to win this match, Arsenal will be the opponent they’ve faced the most times in European competition without ever winning (7). They’re winless in six against them so far, which is their joint-most against an opponent, along with Bayer Leverkusen and Partizan Belgrade. Arsenal have only won one of their 11 away matches against Portuguese sides in major European competition (D6 L4), while they were beaten on their most recent trip last season (0-1 v FC Porto in February). The Gunners’ only such victory did come away to Sporting CP, however (1-0 in October 2018). Sporting CP are unbeaten in their four UEFA Champions League games this season (W3 D1), although all were under manager Rúben Amorim who has since left. This will be João Pereira’s first match as a manager in the competition, while the last Sporting CP boss to win his first such game was Paulo Bento back in September 2006 (1-0 v Internazionale) – the previous three all failed to win (D1 L2). Arsenal are winless in their last five away games in the UEFA Champions League (D2 L3), while failing to score in each of the last four. Only one English team has ever failed to score in five consecutive away games in European Cup/Champions League history: Manchester United (5 – October 2004-November 2005). Teams who’ve faced Sporting CP in the UEFA Champions League this season have seen 57% of their total touches come while under high-intensity pressure from an opposition player – this is the highest percentage for oppositions sides against a specific opponent in 2024-25. Viktor Gyökeres has been directly involved in six goals in four UEFA Champions League appearances for Sporting CP this season (5 goals, 1 assist), already the joint-most by a player in a single campaign for the club in the competition (also 6 by Nani in 2014-15). Among midfielders to have contested 10+ duels in the UEFA Champions League, the two players with the highest duel success rate are Arsenal pair Declan Rice (79% - 11/14) and Mikel Merino (75% - 12/16). Meanwhile, the player with the best aerial duel success rate in the competition this term is Gabriel Magalhães (86% - 12/14, min. 10 aerial duels). If the 17-year-old Geovany Quenda features for Sporting CP in this game, he will equal Rúben Neves for the most UEFA Champions League appearances by a Portuguese player while under-18 (5 – Quenda currently on 4 appearances). Kai Havertz (146) and Leandro Trossard (99) make up two of the three players who have made the most high-intensity pressures in the final third in the UEFA Champions League this season (Ludovic Ajorque 2nd on 107). Indeed, Arsenal are the side who’ve made the most as a team (543) in the competition this term. Jurriën Timber (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Attempt missed. Daniel Bragança (Sporting Lisbon) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Viktor Gyökeres. Delay over. They are ready to continue. Substitution, Arsenal. Jakub Kiwior replaces Gabriel Magalhães because of an injury. Delay in match because of an injury Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal). Goal! Sporting Lisbon 1, Arsenal 5. Leandro Trossard (Arsenal) header from very close range to the centre of the goal. Attempt saved. Mikel Merino (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jurriën Timber. Delay over. They are ready to continue. Delay in match (Sporting Lisbon). Substitution, Arsenal. Ethan Nwaneri replaces Martin Ødegaard. Substitution, Arsenal. Oleksandr Zinchenko replaces Riccardo Calafiori. Substitution, Sporting Lisbon. Conrad Harder replaces Hidemasa Morita. Trincão (Sporting Lisbon) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal). Corner, Sporting Lisbon. Conceded by Gabriel Magalhães. Attempt blocked. Trincão (Sporting Lisbon) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Viktor Gyökeres. Attempt missed. Geny Catamo (Sporting Lisbon) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high following a corner. Corner, Sporting Lisbon. Conceded by David Raya. Attempt saved. Morten Hjulmand (Sporting Lisbon) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Trincão. Substitution, Arsenal. Mikel Merino replaces Declan Rice. © 2024 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.