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Arsenal are within striking distance of qualifying for the Champions League round of 16 after Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka secured a 2-0 win over Sevilla on Wednesday.
Mikel Arteta’s side returned to normal after successive defeats at home thanks to Trossard’s opener in the first half and Saka’s goal after the break at the Emirates Stadium.
With three wins from four Group B games, Arsenal sit in first place, four points ahead of second-placed PSV Eindhoven.
The North Londoners will be guaranteed a place in the last 16 if they pick up a point from their final home games against Lens and PSV.
The only concern for Arteta is seeing Saka limping through injury after appearing to twist his ankle in the closing stages.
Saka suffered a series of fouls before his injury, Arteta said the England star had to get used to the tough treatment.
“It was just a kick. I hope it’s not much. I guess he’ll be fine,” he said.
“This will happen when extremes point at people. I don’t think that’s going to replace the way he plays. You’d better get used to it!”
Tearing Sevilla apart is the best way to erase the bitter taste of a difficult era that included a League Cup defeat to West Ham and the end of their Premier League unbeaten run at Newcastle.
That defeat to Newcastle, whose Anthony Gordon winner was controversially awarded via VAR, plunged Arteta into a sustained fury that had barely subsided in the days that followed.
Arteta called the ruling “disgraceful” and “disgraceful”, while Arsenal supported him, saying the defeat was due to “even more unacceptable refereeing and VAR errors”.
There was no more VAR drama to galvanise Arteta in a red haze as Arsenal did some soft paints on lackluster Sevilla, who languish at the back of Group B without a win.
“We didn’t want to react because we played well against Newcastle. We were at home today so we wanted other things. I’m satisfied with the performance,” Arteta said.
“We were competitive and committed. Even when we lost the ball, we were incredibly able to win it back. That’s why we won.
“In Europe, it’s difficult to deal with a situation like ours. “
Sevilla coach Diego Alonso added: “We’re suffering. Arsenal were the team. We played badly.
“Of course I’m happy with the criticism. We have the chance to change things in the derby (against Real Betis). We’ll give it our all. “
– Incisive arsenal –
Arteta said his team will have to be “absolutely ruthless” and make their warring sides “suffer” if they need a long run in the Champions League this season.
The Gunners followed their message to the letter, outplaying Sevilla from start to finish.
Buoyed by incisive moves from Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, Arsenal broke through with a gesture in the 29th minute.
Jorginho broke the impasse in Sevilla’s defence with a fine pass that spotted Saka’s run down the right flank and the winger’s low cross perfectly placed for Trossard to head home from close range.
The 28-year-old Belgian’s fourth goal of the season rewarded Arteta’s religion after he decided to play as a centre-forward in the absence of injured Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus.
Kai Havertz, who has scored just one goal this season, hit a long-range shot early in the second half, but once behind he remained largely anonymous for long periods.
Luckily for Arsenal, they don’t want to rely on Havertz as a regular source of goals at the moment.
It was Saka and Martinelli who combined to secure the decisive goal in the 64th minute.
Martinelli’s accurate pass sent Saka racing into the domain and cleverly cut off Adria Pedrosa before guiding a serene finish past Marko Dmitrovic from 10 yards.
SMG/NF