This was in response to accusations of timidity. Arsenal’s lack of forward thinking on foreign trips had been the talking point before the match, but it turned out they had saved a shelter for the continent’s form team.

Sporting had no answer to a masterful first-half performance that was accurately reflected in goals from Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhães, all of whom showed a painfully flaky backline. Although the hosts were given hope by Gonçalo Inácio early in a more competitive second period, they had too much to do. Arsenal went back through the gears when it mattered. Bukayo Saka’s penalty and a header from Leandro Trossard gave their ambitions to quickly progress to the knockout stages a significant boost.

Although Saturday’s easy victory over Nottingham Forest had turned some Arsenal heads, they arrived in Lisbon with a new slate to wipe clean. Their away games in Europe have been sub-par for almost two years and Arteta admitted in the build-up that something had to change, whether by luck or judgement. They had drawn zero on their last four trips and, starting with a 2-2 draw at this venue in March 2023, had won just one of their previous eight.

So this was their chance to make a statement that could seem particularly meaningful considering Sporting had eviscerated Manchester City here three weeks earlier. That evening was Ruben Amorim’s most spicy farewell; now his successor, former reserve team coach Tiago Teixeira, was charged with maintaining this rattling momentum.

It was punctured within seven minutes and after Arsenal had started the match with some speed, he had announced the arrival of the opener. Jurriën Timber was the creator, sliding in through Declan Rice on the right before turning a wonderful low ball into the six-yard box. The cross was impossible to defend and although he eluded Havertz, the recalled Martinelli was ready to attack.

Martin Ødegaard gestured his teammates forward as Sporting got things going again, and was clearly keen for them to maintain the mix of urgency and potential. After all, the home team had responded ruthlessly to falling behind against City. They flocked here, former Tottenham striker Marcus Edwards buzzing with purpose in his first Champions League action of the season, but it wouldn’t be long before Ødegaard’s wish came true.

This time it was Saka who found space on the back foot, fueled by a clipped pass from Thomas Partey that sent it past Maximiliano Araújo. Goalkeeper Franco Israel advanced, but Saka showed the presence of mind to push the ball over him with the outside of his left foot, leaving Havertz with the simplest of finishes from close to the line.

A noisy audience, which was rightly lively at first, had been virtually silenced. As the half hour passed, the only fireworks in David Raya’s penalty area were those set off above by the home support shortly after Havertz’s goal.

When the vaunted Viktor Gyökeres tried to run past Gabriel, the defender kept pace and eventually knocked the ball out of play. After a break led by Ødegaard, who was spinning, Saka again took advantage of Sporting’s obvious weakness on the right with an inside jink and a shot that Israel held.

Rice then fired wildly after another Saka attempt was blocked. Arsenal were dominant in every area and moments after a rare moment of sporting cohesion led to Raya signing from Geovany Quenda, they made the match safe.

There was no time for another Sporting restart after Gabriel rose in characteristic fashion to meet a high, deep left hook from Rice and plant it outside Israel. Arsenal had produced a near-perfect half of European football.

The last thing they needed to do was inject the rest with unnecessary drama. So it changed the picture when, from an awarded corner when Raya pushed Hidemasa Morita’s shot wide, Inácio escaped Riccardo Calafiori and converted a controlled volley inside the near post. Only two minutes of the second half had passed and now the crowd, remembering how City had been blown away at the same stage, were on their feet again.

Gyökeres’ eyes lit up when he got a free-kick well inside the ‘D’, but he sent his shot into orbit. Raya then had to prevent an Edwards cross from sneaking in and shortly afterwards saw the same player shoot over at the end of a flowing move. Sporting attacked in waves, with neither team showing even the slightest resemblance to the first half, but out of nowhere Arsenal had the chance to restore order.

There was no doubt about the award of the penalty. Ødegaard ran through Inácio far too easily and was clipped from behind by Ousmane Diomande as he looked for Saka. The decision for Szymon Marciniak, the referee, was simple and Saka did the rest. Then Trossard, reacting after Israel had parried fellow substitute Mikel Merino’s attempt, added further polish.