A fantastic result for Arsenal meant they go four points clear at the top of their Champions League group following a 2-0 defeat of Sevilla. After the weekend’s disappointment, responding in such a way will be a delight for Mikel Arteta.

It takes the pressure off ahead of what is a favourable run of fixtures for the Gunners. Starting that run in the perfect way to kick the side back into gear and keep the all of the emphasis on their rivals in the Premier League.

With that said, it is important to look back on what is a very interesting night that had plenty of successes but also a number of frustrations that Arteta will have to deal with. The incoming international break will perhaps be more welcome than some might want to admit.

All the successes

Leandro Trossard delivers

When you have both of your starting strikers out, the player who comes in needs to deliver and that is exactly what happened. Gabriel Jesus remains out for the long term while Eddie Nketiah suffered a knock at Newcastle which prevented him from training with a late fitness test sadly coming too soon for him to be involved.

Leandro Trossard was perhaps rather predictably – considering he came on for Nketiah at the weekend – given the nod by Mikel Arteta. The Belgian was lively throughout and a nuisance for a Sevilla side who were caught chasing shadows all throughout the game and the movement of Trossard was a big part of it.

However, his finish completed a glorious Arsenal move after Declan Rice claimed back possession in the opposition half – hardly the first time we’ve said that. Jorginho then with an unbelievable pass through to Bukayo Saka before he crossed for his strike partner who was given the easiest talk to slot home.

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Responding from Newcastle

When you have a setback, it is so easy to see things spiral out of control and the Gunners have had a habit in the past of having strings of poor form. One of the biggest reasons why last season they were able to sustain a title challenge for so long was their ability to respond after an inevitable drop of points.

It wasn’t just the fact that Arsenal lost at the weekend, it was the manner of the result and all the controversy which of course followed. It could seen the side either allow those feelings to linger or instead go over the top in response.

They did neither, and instead, Sevilla were subjected to arguably the most dominant performance of the season where the Arsenal foot was locked on the neck of the Spanish side and was not taken away until the final whistle blew. Chance after chance came and perhaps a criticism will be the lack of more goals but when you win and in such fashion, it would be simply nit-picking.

A chance for a rest

The win means that Arsenal need to be RC Lens in their next game at home, after the French side were beaten by PSV to confirm their place in the final 16 of the competition as group winners. This would bring with it a priceless reward if they are successful in doing so.

It would mean the final game of the group would effectively be a dead rubber with the result meaningless. It would be a chance to bring in the kids for the trip to Eindhoven and give them a chance with some of their senior teammates.

PSV would very much like this to be the case to give them a much more favourable clash with the Gunners and give them a boost of qualifying behind them. I remember speaking to Luuk de Jong after the first match of the group and he was already targeting that second spot.

The night’s frustrations

Bukayo Saka injury

For a moment I thought that Bukayo Saka was back to his brilliant best. A goal and an assist for the England international after what has been a run leading to questions about his performances and whether or not he has been suffering from an element of burnout.

However, despite the strong performance, it was again peppered with rough challenges, kicks and fouls which seemingly built up until the wide man couldn’t take any more. He was substituted toward the end of the game with Mikel Arteta saying he simply was not comfortable enough to continue.

It is worth remembering that a similar incident happened away at Bournemouth where he came off. Saka came straight back in for the next game despite the affliction and perhaps we will see a repeat against Burnley this weekend.

Takehiro Tomiyasu felt ‘something’

That is what Mikel Arteta said in his post-match interview. Takehiro Tomiyasu has been thrilled to play so many minutes in an Arsenal shirt and said before the match in the press conference that his last season was the toughest he has faced.

The hope will be that whatever has forced him off in the game on Wednesday night is only minor. If it isn’t, that is yet another injury to add to the growing list leaving Arteta with a bare-bones squad.

Come on Kai

Kai Havertz came so close to getting his first competitive Arsenal goal from open play. There were three opportunities that are sure to stick in the mind of the German international including a header in the first minute which was almost a gift of a chance but the unsighted cross was enough to put him off at the last.

His curling effort from outside the box which went a whisker wide of the left post will surely be of further angst to the £65million man. With Martin Odegaard still a doubt for the weekend’s game with Burnley, this attacking midfield/second striker role is certainly getting more from him and hopefully, it clicks soon.