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Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman thinks highly of Arsenal's UEFA Champions League hopes after their 5-1 win at Sporting CP on Tuesday (November 26).
The Gunners ran riot at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, opening the scoring through Gabriel Martinelli inside seven minutes. Kai Havertz doubled the visitors' advantage 15 minutes later before Gabriel Magalhael put Mikel Arteta's side three goals to the good on the stroke of half-time.
Goncalo Inacio pulled one back for the Primeira Liga leaders two minutes into the second period. But the Gunners reasserted their ascendancy through Bukayo Saka's 65th-penalty, restoring their three-goal lead. Leandro Trossard then applied the coup de grace eight minutes from time to round off a resounding win.
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Offering his thoughts on the Gunners' title credentials in the Champions League, Osman told BBC Radio5 Live (via TBR):
“I was asked at the start of the season whether I thought Arsenal were capable of winning the Champions League. I said yes, I do think so. They need to have performances like this. They need to be more positive away from home.
“We know they can be defensively sound, but the question was whether they can really go and take the game to somebody, like Manchester City and Real Madrid do at times."
He concluded:
“They’ve now done that against a Sporting side that has been undefeated here for 13 months and started the season wonderfully well. They’ve absolutely dominated them in every aspect.”
The win over Sporting took the Gunners to 10th in the standings after five games, winning three, having lost 1-0 at Inter Milan in their previous outing.
Arsenal boss hails team's 'big win' in Lisbon
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta sounded pleased with his team's effort as they beat a Sporting CP that were unbeaten at home across competitions for more than a year.
Coming off a 3-0 Premier League home win over Nottingham Forest at the weekend, the Gunners put in a five-star performance in Lisbon, snapping a five-game away scoreless run in the Champions League.
"We played a team at home I don't think have lost in nearly 18 months," Arteta said (as per the BBC). "They have been in top form. They have been better than anybody they play here, so to play to the level, with determination and purpose, we have done today - I am very pleased.
"The team played with so much courage, and watching them live I realised how good they are. A big performance, a big win, and I am really happy."
Arteta's side next travel to West Ham United in the Premier League on Saturday (November 30). They are fourth in the standings after 12 games, nine points behind leaders Liverpool (31).
