Arsenal move to the top of Group B after win over Sevilla

• Arsenal secured a 2-1 victory over Spanish side Sevilla in the Champions League last night to move to the top of Group B
• Gabriel Jesus, who assisted Arsenal’s first goal before scoring the second, left the pitch with a suspected hamstring injury

Arsenal secured a 2-1 victory over Spanish side Sevilla in the Champions League last night to move to the top of Group B. Gabriel Martinelli gave the Gunners the lead on the stroke of half time before Gabriel Jesus’ superb strike made in 2-0 after the restart.

Sevilla pulled one back but that would be all as Arsenal held on to their lead until the referee blew his whistle for full time. The result sees Mikel Arteta’s side rise to the summit of Group B with six points. Lens, who drew 1-1 with PSV, are second on five points. Sevilla are third on two points ahead of PSV on goal difference.

Gabriel Jesus scored and provided an assist in Arsenal’s victory over Sevilla. Photo/ Eurosport.

Arsenal are back in the Champions League after six years but have a squad that is still finding its feet in the competition.

“Very happy to win in here, not many teams have won here in the last 10 years in Europe. And we’ve done it. I really liked the team in the first 60 to 65 minutes because we played the game we wanted. After we went 2-0 up, we should have scored a third one and we had chances to score it.” Sky Sports quotes Arsenal manager Gabriel Jesus.

How Arsenal Beat Sevilla 

Arsenal made only one change from the squad that secured a 2-2 draw against Chelsea in the Premier League last weekend. Takehiro Tomiyasu replaced Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back as David Raya continued in goal despite his error against Chelsea on Saturday.

The Gunners made a positive start against Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, with Tomiyasu firing wide. Martinelli then had an opportunity to give his side the lead but the onrushing goalkeeper Orjan Nyland ensured Sevilla stayed in the game.

The hosts had their first big chance when Jesus Navas sent a low cross for Lucas Ocampos to pounce on but the Argentine steered the ball wide.

A stop-start first half, which included injury scares to Arsenal attackers Bukayo Saka and Martinelli, nearly drifted towards a slack conclusion but came alive in injury time. Jesus spinned two Sevilla defenders before feeding Martinelli who rounded the goalkeeper before calmly slotting home.

Gabriel Martinelli celebrates after scoring against Sevilla. Photo/ TNT Sports.

Mikel Arteta’s side carried the momentum into the second half, with Martin Odegaard blazing over from inside the box. It was not long until the Gunners fired for a second time, with Jesus cutting inside before curling an unstoppable effort into the top corner.

Sevilla struck back out of nowhere when Ivan Rakitic’s corner was headed in at the near post by Nemanja Gudelj. With the momentum on their side, the hosts attacked in numbers and piled the pressure on Mikel Arteta’a side. However, Arsenal held on to their narrow lead. Gabriel Jesus, who assisted Arsenal’s first goal before scoring the second, left the pitch with a suspected hamstring injury.