3 positives and negatives from Arsenal's brilliant Champions League win in Lisbon

Positive #2: Martin Odegaard works his magic

It is like he has never been away.

Arsenal did a lot of good work in Lisbon and much of it came through Martin Odegaard, whose velvet touch saw the team function as a well-oiled machine.

His name will not show up on the scoresheet or even amongst the assists (except for being fouled for the penalty). However, no one can deny that he left a footprint on our goals via his movement, build-up play and leadership, qualities without which the scale of this victory would not have been nearly as great.

There are several others – Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and William Saliba to name but a few – who also deserve credit for their efforts. But Odegaard brought the type of fluidity that Arsenal sorely lacked in his absence and, for that, the fans can delight in his return.

Negative #2: Time-wasting

Even I am surprised to find multiple negatives from a 5-1 win, yet ‘time-wasting’ has truly earned its place in this list.

Of course, slowing things down is a key part of game management – again, especially on the road – and it would be foolish of Arsenal not to push those boundaries, not least because of the excellent home record Sporting held prior to Tuesday night (unbeaten in 14).

But the players must know when to do it (e.g. late in the second half) and for how long (e.g. just as the crowd get vocal over a throw-in). The Gunners did not show the required sagacity here: David Raya picked up a yellow card after just 52 minutes and Jurrien Timber had a throw-in given against him for taking too long over one of his own.

There is no problem with taking one for the team, but those were needless cautions to get and came about because neither Raya nor Timber recognised when they had already pushed their luck enough – at least it did not cost us.

If any side understands the impact that silly yellow cards can have, it is Arsenal.

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