Gabriel Jesus scored a goal and grabbed an assist to help Arsenal get back to winning ways in the Champions League with victory at Sevilla.
After losing 2-1 to Lens in their previous European outing, the Gunners came through a difficult test against the seven-time Europa League winners.
Gabriel Martinelli got the visitors up and running by marking his Champions League debut with a goal, racing onto Jesus’ brilliant ball and rounding the goalkeeper in first-half stoppage time.
Jesus then increased Arsenal’s lead early in the second half with a superb strike into the top corner.
Sevilla, backed by a vocal home crowd, got back into the game when Nemanja Gudelj headed in from a set piece.
From then on, Arsenal had to withstand some pressure as the hosts tried to find an equaliser, and David Raya tipped Mariano’s shot onto the crossbar, although it may not have counted because of a possible handball.
Mikel Arteta’s side then suffered a late blow as Jesus went off with an injury, but they held firm despite that setback to secure a victory that moves them top of Group B.
Jesus makes his mark
The Gunners are back in the Champions League after a six-year absence but have a squad that is still finding its feet in the competition, with several players having never played in it until this season.
That included the scorer of Arsenal’s opening goal, Martinelli, but he will be thankful for Jesus’ European experience, which showed in this performance.
Facing a hostile atmosphere at The Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, the Gunners needed their big players to step up and Jesus did just that with a superb display.
A Champions League runner-up with Manchester City in 2021, Jesus’ assist for the opener was a thing of beauty as he brought the ball down and then spun to beat two players with one movement, before showing great vision to send Martinelli away with a perfect pass.
His goal in the second half gave the visitors the breathing space they needed as Sevilla piled on the pressure as they looked to rescue something from the game.
With four goals in three Champions League games this season, Jesus is a crucial player in Europe for the Gunners, who now face an anxious wait to discover the seriousness of the injury he suffered late on, although he was able to make his own way off the pitch with just a slight limp.
