The 2023-24 season of the Champions League is giving us memorable moments from almost every match that is taking place. In one of the most recent matches, Arsenal pulled off a classic 2-1 victory over Sevilla on Tuesday at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.
The match’s highlight was Gabriel Jesus, who scored a goal and provided a valuable assist that converted into the second goal by Gabriel Martinelli. The victory has allowed Arsenal to return to winning ways in the Champions League, following a disappointing 2-1 loss to Lens in their previous European outing.
Both the Garbiels put up a spectacular show to help steer the Gunners to a valiant victory against the seven-time Europa League winners Sevilla. Sevilla, despite being 2-0 in the second half, managed to narrow the gap with a goal by Nemanja Gudelj in the 58th minute, but could not go all the way to get the equalizer or win it at their home ground.
Gabriel Martinelli got the visitors off and running by marking his Champions League debut with a goal, racing on to 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 equalizer, 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 a suspected hamstring injury, but they held firm to secure a victory that moved them top of Group B.
Arsenal is back to compete in the Champions League after a gap of six years, however, the current line-up, though promising, still needs to find its feet in the competition, with several players having never played a Champions League match until this season, including opening goal scorer Martinelli.
The Gunners desperately needed their big guns to fire in the face of a hostile environment at the stadium, and Jesus delivered an outstanding performance to do just that. Jesus, who finished second in the Champions League with Manchester City in 2021, created a masterpiece with his assist on the first goal. He took the ball down, turned to beat two people with a single movement, and then used excellent vision to send Martinelli off with a brilliant pass.
As Sevilla increased the pressure to salvage something from the match, his strike in the second half provided the visitors the breathing room they needed. Jesus has scored three goals in the Gunners’ three Champions League games this season, making him an important figure in Europe.
He will have to miss some time, though, as Arteta revealed following the game that he left the game late due to what may have been a hamstring injury.
