Arsenal vs Sporting CP Europa League round of 16 second leg preview: Where to watch, kick-off time, predicted line-ups | UEFA Europa League

Arsenal and Sporting CP meet in the UEFA Europa League round of 16 second leg on Thursday 16 March.

Where to watch Arsenal vs Sporting CP on TV?

Fans can find their local UEFA Europa League broadcast partners here.

what do you need to know

It was an experimental-looking Arsenal side that eventually left Lisbon with a 2-2 first-leg draw, but there are likely to be a few more familiar faces in the starting XI as the Gunners look to secure a place in the quarter-finals. Having kept all three of their home games in Europe without conceding this season, they have reason to be optimistic.

With a place in the top three in the Portuguese league far from certain, Ruben Amorim’s side need no reminder of the importance of this clash. Sporting have drawn their last three games in England (including a 0-0 draw at Arsenal in the 2018/19 Europa League group stage). With the away goals rule now abolished, another draw could mean a dramatic ending.

Expected Lineups

arsenal: gymnast; white, saliba, kiwior; Nelson, Jorginho, Xhaka, Zinchenko; Saka, Martinelli, Fábio Vieira (first leg starting line-up)

Sporty CP: Adan; St. Juste, Coates, Gonçalo Inácio; Ricardo Esgaio, Morita, Pedro Goncalves, Matheus Reis; Edwards, Paulinho, Francisco Trincão (first leg starting lineup)

form guide

arsenal
Form (all competitions, newest first): DWWWW
where they stand: 1st place in the English Premier League

Sporty CP
Form (all competitions, newest first): DWWWWD
where they stand: 4th in the Portuguese League

expert predictions

Lynsey Hooper, Arsenal reporter
Consequences.

Carlos Machado, Sporting CP reporter
Consequences.

What the trainers say

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal manager: “Considering that we conceded two goals away from home, we have to take some positives with us [the first leg]. We [were] missing four of our main attacking players and [still have] all to play now. There are things to improve, but we have shown a lot of resilience. We have to show that we’re the better team.”

Ruben Amorim, Sporting CP manager: “The duel is open. Of course it’s difficult. Arsenal are a team that pushes opponents to play at the edge of their box; we must be able to defend. I would be happier if [the first leg] 2-1 or 3-1, which it could have been, but after that [the draw] we believe even more strongly that we can pull through.”