Ferdinand praises Arsenal’s ‘statement performance’ in demolition of Sporting

Rio Ferdinand believes Arsenal's destruction of Sporting Lisbon shows they can still win the Premier League title despite having a huge mountain to climb.

Their 5-1 win on Tuesday night was their biggest away win in the Champions League since beating Inter Milan in 2003.

Mikel Arteta's side led from the seventh minute and, apart from a period of pressure early in the second half, they blew away the Portuguese champions to inflict only their second defeat of the season.

Ferdinand believes the result is a sign of a team that has struggled on the road – and highlighted Bukayo Saka as the main man to thank.

'Today is a statement achievement and result. By the way, Sporting's biggest defeat in two years. It is a team that is dominant and used to winning,” Ferdinand told TNT Sports.

'Arsenal must get the credit tonight. Their away form wasn't great in Europe and that was a big question mark. I said before the match that they have to prove that they can go away if they want to challenge for anything in this tournament.

'That first 45 in itself was the best I've seen Arsenal in a long time. They were great in all areas.

'Arteta will say: 'our best players are fit, now you see the real Arsenal'. They will need to make a real run if they want to achieve anything in the Premier League, but I wouldn't put it past them.

'They have shown in recent years that they can go on a long winning streak and they need to put in a great performance this season to have any chance of winning the league. I wouldn't put anything next to this team.

“Saka played like a seasoned veteran today: he stopped people, put the ball away and made the right decisions throughout the game. Top class performance. Everyone said this was a very difficult game and they made it look easy.

'We talk about how much this team has missed (Martin) Odegaard, but let's not undermine or underestimate the importance of Saka. He finally had the armband on and he could captain Arsenal without any doubt. He doesn't need the bracelet; he is already a leader on this team.

'He leads with the ability to get the ball all the time – under pressure or without pressure, he wants the ball and wants to make something happen. Goals and assists, his consistency is through the roof.”

Saka got on the scoresheet with a second-half penalty to make it 4–1 and also provided the assist for Kai Havertz's goal to put the Gunners 2–0 up early.

Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Magalhaes and Leandro Trossard also scored in a win that moves Arsenal up to seventh in the Champions League standings.

If they can maintain that position over the next three rounds, the Gunners will automatically progress to the last 16 without having to contest a play-off tie.

Arteta beamed after seeing his side's best European performance on the road since taking over in 2019. Yet their domestic prospects have suffered a dip in form, with Liverpool nine points ahead.

Shooting legend Martin Keown praised Arteta's strike after witnessing a turning point win at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

'They are building their reputation. Saka spoke about faith and there were moments this season where you felt like the world was against them. They have retained that belief,” he told TNT Sports.

'Saka and Odegaard, together on the right, are as good as anyone in Europe.

'It's one achievement, one result. As Rio said, it will be seven or eight games they need to win to put Liverpool under any pressure in the Premier League.

“That's the rules, that's what happens, it's a tough competition and they have to keep winning. Tonight is a huge boost.”