Arsenal will face Sporting in a highly anticipated Europa League match tonight, with both teams looking to secure a win and advance to the knockout stages of the competition.
The Gunners have been in exceptional form this season, however if last Thursday was a witness to something – Sporting will pose a tough challenge for Arsenal. The Portuguese side boasts a talented squad, with players such as Pedro Gonçalves, Francisco Trincão, and ofcourse our very own Hector Bellerin, capable of causing problems for any opposition.
The Premier League leaders took another comfortable victory against Fulham at the Craven Cottage at the weekend, making the trip down the Thames look rather bleak and much of an home game.
With both teams aiming to go deep into this competition, tonight’s match promises to be an exciting encounter, with plenty of goals and drama expected. Arsenal will be hoping to secure a comfprtable win and take one step closer to qualifying for the quarters, while Sporting will be looking to upset the odds and pick up a crucial victory away from home that could prove integral to their season.
WHEN & WHERE?
Kick-off: Thursday 16 March
Time: 20:00 (BST)
Location: Emirates Stadium
Referee: Antonio Mateu Lahoz (ESP)
TEAM NEWS
Hosts got a big injury boost at the weekend where Gabriel Jesus took the field for the first time on Sunday after a three-month absence and is in the running to return tonight with Eddie Nketiah still on the nursing table. Another face that returned to the squad against Fulham was Leandro Trossard, who is expected to start up top, with Reiss Nelson and maybe Fabio Vieira completing the front three. Our starboy should get some rest having played in abundance over the past couple of weeks.
Kieran Tierney, who missed the first leg owing to sickness, could return to much anticipated left-back role, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Arteta switch things up at center-back, with Rob Holding and Gabriel perhaps emerging as Thursday’s pairing, after playing William Saliba thrice last week.
The Smith, Emile Rowe is also in-line for his first start following his return from injury as Jorginho should replace Thomas Partey at the heart of the field.
For the visitors, they have a couple of suspensions to deal with as – Sebastián Coates & Hidemasu Morita will miss out following yellow cards in the first leg which accounts for their suspension this leg. Manuel Ugarte returns from suspension for Ruben Amorim as Ousmane Diomande is inline to start in the defensive line.
WHAT TO EXPECT: A PRE GAME DIVE
Sporting, as they did in first leg, will be looking to capitalise on transitions while Arsenal will look to take charge of the ball and make that count. The Gunners would like to take most advantage of their home supporters as Mikel highlighted in his pre-match conference. With the likes of halfspace players we have at our disposal in ESR and Fabio Vieira, Arsenal will look to take advantage of creative balls from these areas to break Sporting’s resilience. For Ruben Amorim, they did an excellent job of slowing the game down and they would be looking to do the same tonight – but Arsenal with their crowd will love to maintain that intensity of moving the ball at pace to cause chaos.
PREDICTED LINE-UPS
Arsenal: Turner; Tomiyasu, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Jorignho, Smith Rowe, Xhaka; Fabio Vieira, Trossard, Nelson.
Sporting CP: Adan; Inacio, Diomande, St. Juste; Esgaio, Pote, Ugarte, Reis; Edwards, Paulinho, Trincao.
