'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Arsenal secured a crucial 2-1 win over Sevilla in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, October 24, to send them to the top of Group B.
Sevilla entered this contest on the back of three draws in their last three outings. Their last game was a 1-1 draw against Real Madrid as Sergio Ramos had a great game against his former club. Their last UCL game was an exciting 2-2 draw against PSV Eindhoven in the last matchweek. The Spanish club knew they needed a win to keep up pace with their rivals.
The Gunners, on the other hand, played out a 2-2 draw against Chelsea in their last league game. In the UCL, their last game was a 2-1 defeat against French side RC Lens. However, Mikel Arteta was keen to get back to winning ways as he named a strong XI.
Both Arsenal and Sevilla made decent starts to the contest and looked good with the ball in the first half. However, both sides lacked conviction in the final third as they failed to create any substantial chances until late in the first half.
Between the two, there were only two shots on target from eight first-half attempts as Sevilla struggled to find their shooting boots with three efforts off-target. The Gunners, on the other hand, hit the target twice in five attempts.
Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli combined to open the scoring in the third minute of first-half stoppage time as the former assisted the latter. Arsenal carried a 1-0 lead into the half-time break.
Arsenal made a great start to the second period and doubled their advantage just eight minutes after the restart. Jesus, who assisted the first goal, looked in great touch as he got on the end of Declan Rice's pass before slotting it past the goalkeeper to make it 2-0 after 53 minutes.
Sevilla did not need to wait too long for a goal of their own as they pulled one back just five minutes after conceding their second. Ivan Rakitic teed up Nemanja Gudelj with a lovely pass to make it 2-1 after 58 minutes, with plenty of time to change the outcome.
However, Arsenal organized their backline well, and Arteta made decent substitutions to secure the win over Sevilla.
On that note, let's take a look at the five major talking points from the game.
#5. Gabriel Martinelli grabs a goal on debut in the UCL
Despite making a rather lackluster start to the game in the final third, Arsenal roared back with some slick moves towards the end of the first period. This included their move that led to the goal, which was created by Gabriel Jesus.
The Brazilian forward played a lovely pass towards compatriot Gabriel Martinelli ahead of him. The Gunners' number 11 then ran towards goal at full tilt before skillfully rounding the goalkeeper and tucking into an empty net for his first Champions League goal in his debut in the competition.
The forward took to social media to express his delight following the game, posting with the caption:
"Champions League debut goal and a win. From dreams to reality."
#4. Gabriel Jesus doubles Arsenal's lead in the second half
Having gone into the break with a narrow 1-0 lead, Arsenal looked to take the game to Sevilla in the second half in a bid to blow them out of the water. They took another major step towards doing that as Jesus scored to make it 2-0 just eight minutes after the restart.
Declan Rice retreived a ball in the final third as Jesus overlapped him from the left. Rice then played the ball to the Brazilian, who seemed like he was shaping up to cross from a tight angle. However, he unleashed a curling effort that sailed into the top-right corner from an improbable angle to make it 2-0 after 53 minutes.
Gabriel Jesus' contributions now made it 14 goals and four assists in 17 Champions League starts with Manchester City and Arsenal.
#3. Nemanja Gudelj pulls one goal back for Sevilla
Having fallen two goals behind after Gabriel Jesus' second-half strike, Sevilla were desperate to find a way back into the game.
Their search did not last long as Ivan Rakitic played in a pinpoint corner towards the front post for it to be attacked. Nemanja Gudelj made no mistake as he got there first and smashed the ball into the net from close range to make it 2-1 after 58 minutes.
#2. Jesus suffers late injury scare but remains optimistic
Having already put Arsenal in the driver's seat, Jesus suffered discomfort late in the game and was replaced by Edward Nketiah in the 81st minute.
Speaking to TNT Sports (via Charles Watts) in his post-match interview, the Brazilian appeared optimistic and shrugged off his injury as a precaution.
"I felt something. Let’s see. I did some tests with the physio, it looks not that big, but let’s see. I have a scan, maybe tomorrow. I’m pretty sure it will be nothing."
With the Brazilian in great touch, Arteta will be eager for him to be back in action as soon as possible.
#1. Arsenal move top of Group B
Midway through the Champions League group stages, the Gunners have now moved up to first place in Group B.
Following a win and a defeat in their first two games, this contest against Sevilla was crucial because these two teams were earmarked by experts to be the two qualifiers from this group. However, their results would determine the order of qualifying as Arsenal took one big step towards topping the group.
The north Londoners now have six points from three games and will host Sevilla in the return leg on November 9.
