Arsenal player ratings vs Sporting: Three 8/10s but one 5 as Mikel Arteta warns Liverpool

Arsenal royally showed Manchester City how it’s done in Lisbon with a breath-taking 5-1 victory against Sporting on Tuesday night. The Gunners emphatically returned to winning ways in Europe after tasting defeat at Inter Milan last time out, warning Liverpool that City aren’t the team they should be worried about in the Premier League title race.

Bukayo Saka’s 65th-minute penalty and Leandro Trossard’s late rebound header followed Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhaes’ first-half strikes.

Goncalo Inacio netted a consolation goal for the hosts, who looked like a shadow of the team that demolished City a few weeks ago without the charisma and tactical nouse of former boss Ruben Amorim.

Express Sport runs through the Arsenal player ratings on a confidence-boosting outing in the Portuguese capital.

Arsenal player ratings vs Sporting

David Raya: 7

Couldn’t have done much to stop Inacio’s powerful hit. Looked assured as he made five saves.

Jurrien Timber: 8

His creativity goes under the radar. Just as effective in the opponents’ half as his own. Pinpoint assist for Martinelli’s opener.

William Saliba: 7

Dominated his duels and reliably built up from the back. Business as usual.

Gabriel Magalhaes: 8

Just as imposing a display as his partner. Bonus point for his powerful header on the brink of half-time. He loves those.

Riccardo Calafiori: 5

Won just two of his seven duels. Arsenal’s least impressive player on the night.

Thomas Partey: 6

Kept things ticking with a 92 per cent pass accuracy.

Declan Rice: 7

Back in action after missing the weekend’s Nottingham Forest win. Perfect delivery for Gabriel’s headed goal.

Martin Odegaard: 6

Created two chances but was less involved in the goals than the scoreline suggests. So, so good on the ball though. Arsenal missed him dearly.

Bukayo Saka: 8

A goal from the penalty spot to add to his assist earlier in the match. UEFA’s Man of the Match, and there can be no complaints at that.

Gabriel Martinelli: 7

Wasn’t heavily involved on the left wing, taking just 19 touches, but broke the deadlock with poacher positioning and created one chance.

Kai Havertz: 7

Lots of success in his aerial duels and provided the type of poacher’s goal that Arsenal need more often from their striker.

Substitutes

Mikel Merino: 6

Didn’t have much to say in his 20-minute cameo.

Leandro Trossard: 7

Reacted quickest to head in Arsenal’s fifth from the bench.

Oleksandr Zinchenko: 6

Uninvolved. Didn’t do anything wrong.

Ethan Nwaneri: 6

Likewise. He had a shot, though.

Jakub Kiwior: 5

Couldn’t match Viktor Gyokeres for pace just moments after coming on as the Swede burst through and rattled the post late on.