‘He really gave us tough Time yesterday,my defender were unable to cope with Him’: Sevilla boss Reveals One Arsenal player really gave Him headache yesterday – Not Martinelli
Sevilla coach Diego Alonso admits Arsenal tore his side apart down the right wing with Bukayo Saka back in form during a comfortable 2-0 Champions League win.
The phrase ‘form is temporary’ comes to mind.
As Arsenal’s number seven doubled the lead on the night after setting up Leandro Trossard’s well-worked first-half opener, Bukayo Saka proved that his class is very much permanent.
After four successive games without a goal or an assist, the England international was back at his sparkling best against a Sevilla side who, in Alonso’s own words, were ‘overwhelmed’ by the pace, the intensity and the quality of an Arsenal side four points clear at the top of Group B and with one foot in the knockout stage.
Bukayo Saka shines as Arsenal beat Sevilla
“We felt overwhelmed. Arsenal are a great team and we couldn’t compete,” Alonso, who’s Europa League specialists may soon be returning to their familiar stomping ground, tells Movistar Plus.
“We didn’t have the ball. They beat us one on one, especially on our left side.
“We were overwhelmed. We could not do what we had planned, and I cannot blame the players because they competed. (Arsenal) were superior.”
Arsenal now need only one win from their final two matches to qualify for the next round. The most confident and commanding of victories, meanwhile, was a welcome tonic following that contentious defeat to Newcastle United and that Carabao Cup hammering at the hands of West Ham.
Saka’s fellow wideman Gabriel Martinelli was also much-improved on the night, with Declan Rice just glad he only has to come up against the dazzling duo on the training pitch.
Champions League cruise
“I think tonight was massive for them, for their confidence,” Rice tells the Gunners website. “I think one v one they were frightening. Every time they had the full-backs one v one, they drove at them. I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of that to be honest with you!
“They were both electric.
“We were very good, high energy, at it from the start, full gas. We didn’t let (Sevilla) breathe. I think they had one shot all game. It was just an all-round really good performance, especially with them sitting really deep playing a back five, which is always hard to break down.
“But, once we did it, it was a very good performance.”
