How Arsenal were knocked out of Europa League after penalty shootout loss against Sporting

Readers in the US can replay the match-winning moment here:

Readers in the UK can replay the match-winning moment here:

The end of normal time would undoubtedly played out differently, but if the away goals rule was still in effect, this scoreline would have seen Arsenal advance…

That defeat could help Arsenal’s title charge in the Premier League, with less games to contest than Manchester City, who are still in the Champions League and FA Cup.

This will be especially true if William Saliba or Takehiro Tomiyasu are out for an extended period of time after leaving this match injured.

Nuno Santos fires past Ramsdale and Sporting have eliminated Arsenal and advanced to the quarter-finals!

Adan denies Martinelli! Sporting can win it with their next kick!

Gomes puts Sporting back in front 4-3!

Trossard equalises for Arsenal! Adan nearly got an arm to his shot.

Neither side has missed yet.

Inacio puts Sporting back in front 3-2! Ramsdale got a hand to it but couldn’t keep it out!

Saka equalises for Arsenal!

Esgaio puts Sporting ahead 2-1!

Odegaard equalises for Arsenal!

St. Juste scores and Sporting are ahead 1-0!

Sporting will take the first penalty, and the kicks will be done at the end that contains Sporting’s travelling supporters.

This will be Arsenal’s 23rd penalty shootout in all competitions (won 14 and lost 8 of their previous 22) and just their second at home, after a 9-8 shootout win against Rotherham at Highbury in the League Cup back in October 2003.

Both managers are giving animated team talks.

As Sporting had a player sent off, Arsenal will need to select one of their 11 players to exclude from the shootout.

Three and a half hours over two legs hasn’t been enough to separate these sides.

120+1′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

119′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

Edwards comes off, replaced by Tanlongo.

118′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

Ugarte receives a second booking for a reckless sliding challenge on Saka.

117′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

Gabriel makes great contact with his head on a free kick from Odegaard, but Adan makes an incredible diving save!

Moments later Adan makes another brilliant save on another header from point-blank range!

116′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

Trossard has a chance to shoot from close range but can’t sort his feet out and the opportunity passes.

115′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

Sporting can’t get out of their own half at the moment. Could we see a late Arsenal winner here, as we have a few times already this season?

110′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

Arsenal are really pressing for the winner now, attacking in waves. Saka gets to the byline this time but Adan is able to catch his ensuing cross.

108′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

Trossard gets to the byline and crosses for Odegaard at the near post. The Arsenal captain swings hit boot at it but can’t direct his shot on target, which admittedly was a very difficult task on the volley from an awkward angle.

106′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

Arsenal get us back underway at the Emirates and within seconds Partey hits a loose ball on the edge of Sporting’s box and nearly scores!

We are 15 minutes away from penalties!

105+1′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

Saka delivers a corner and Holding gets his head to it but can’t hit the target. That was close.

105+1′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

One minute added on to the end of the first half of extra time here.

105′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

Trincao is replaced by Gomes. Sporting have two subs left.

103′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

The home crowd inside the Emirates are making some real noise for the first time in a little while as Odegaard signals to the crowd.

101′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

Odegaard comes on to a big ovation, replacing Vieira as Arsenal are allowed a sixth sub in extra time.

97′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

Trossard breaks free on goal after a terrible error by Essugo, who’s only just come on.

His shot gets through Adan but deflects onto the post and away! What a let off for Sporting.

94′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

Santos replaces the goalscorer Goncalves and Essugo comes on for Reis.

Sporting have three subs remaining.

92′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

Extra time at the Emirates. There will be split opinions on Arteta’s decision to go full strength but I’m a big believer that playing every 3 or 4 days gets a team into a rhythm. It’s difficult to switch to a win-or-die mentality when you discard a competition.

If they come through this it will take a bit out the legs but psychologically I think a group of people tasting victory when it’s tough strengthens them more. We’ll see in the next half an hour I guess!

91′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

Sporting get the ball rolling and we’ve resumed action at the Emirates!

Look who’s at the Emirates tonight:

We’re headed to extra time!

Sporting were the better side in the second half, but it still took a stunning goal for them to equalise.

All still to play for!

90+3′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

Arsenal have a corner, they’re bringing bodies forward, but nothing comes of it.

90+1′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

Four minutes added on!

90′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

Paulinho is replaced by 18-year-old Chermiti.

That’s Sporting’s first change, coming after Arsenal had already made all five of theirs.

88′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

A goal for either side now would surely send them into the last eight of the Europa League.

85′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

Arsenal are claiming handball after Saka set up a first-time shot in Sporting’s box, but it’s a moot point as the flag goes up for offside.

83′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

Holding makes a crucial block on a shot from Trincao. Sporting have comprehensively outplayed Arsenal in the second half here.

81′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

It never rains but it pours… Water has started pouring from the roof of the stand at the halfway line and behind the goal.

Crowds having to move across to avoid getting soaked!

79′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

Vieira hits a free kick from a significant distance. He makes good contact as the shot curls over the Sporting wall, but in the end it’s comfortable save for Adan.

72′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

Huge save by Ramsdale. Former Tottenham player Edwards played through 1v1 but his shot hits the keeper’s face and goes out for a corner. Poor finish but Ramsdale stood tall until the very last second.

Ramsdale has been down receiving treatment for some time now. Matt Turner is warming up. Ramsdale appears OK to play on.

Moments earlier, Holding was booked for a challenge on Paulinho.

One of the best goals you will ever see:

One of the best goals you will ever see:

70′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

Sporting have the bit between their teeth now. Arsenal really need to get some more intensity in their play – Saka and Partey’s introduction might do the trick…

66′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

Saka replaces Nelson and Partey comes on for Jorginho as Arteta responds to Sporting’s equaliser.

Arsenal are out of subs.

65′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

Sporting nearly take the lead! Paulinho gets a free header from a corner and just barely misses the roof of the net.

62′ Arsenal 1-1 Sporting CP

(Tied 3-3 on aggregate)

Wow! Sporting equalise with an outrageous finish from Goncalves. He’s been outstanding but this time he lobs Ramsdale from just inside the Arsenal half.

Arsenal team now in a huddle as they haven’t started the second half well at all.

(All photos by Getty Images)

57′ Arsenal 1-0 Sporting CP

(Arsenal lead 3-2 on aggregate)

Arteta out waving his defence forward after dropping too deep.

Sporting have been better since the break with Goncalves producing some lovely touches in the final third.

56′ Arsenal 1-0 Sporting CP

(Arsenal lead 3-2 on aggregate)

Sporting have taken seven shots but none of them have been on target.

Arsenal, on the other hand, have taken five shots and all of them have been on target.

53′ Arsenal 1-0 Sporting CP

(Arsenal lead 3-2 on aggregate)

Ugarte is shown a yellow card after going to ground and clearing out Martinelli.

Mateu Lahoz tells Mikel Arteta to let him do the refereeing.

50′ Arsenal 1-0 Sporting CP

(Arsenal lead 3-2 on aggregate)

Sporting are attacking in waves in the early going of the second half, as Arsenal repeatedly fail to clear their lines and cheaply give the ball away.

48′ Arsenal 1-0 Sporting CP

(Arsenal lead 3-2 on aggregate)

Arsenal had already used two substitution opportunities in the first half for the injuries to Saliba and Tomiyasu, so that could be why they were happy to take off Jesus at half-time.

46′ Arsenal 1-0 Sporting CP

(Arsenal lead 3-2 on aggregate)

Gabriel Jesus is replaced by Leandro Trossard as we begin the second half. No word on whether Jesus suffered an injury or whether Arsenal are simply looking to limit his minutes as he returns to full fitness.

Rain falling at the Emirates now.

A half-time result that Arsenal will be content with. The two injuries to Tomiyasu and Saliba? Not so much.

Sporting started the far better team and were pulling Arsenal’s shape apart well. White has clearly been instructed to man mark Trincao since coming on to try and get a grip on their build-up. For a while he limited him, although he did have a lovely turn towards the end of the half again.

Edwards could be having a very big night if his final decision had been better on three separate occasions but Arsenal grew into the game and started to settle into their passing a bit more.

All eyes on Jesus and he has been lively with some intricate touches around the box but Vieira, Nelson and Martinelli have not been able to access the ball as much as Arteta would like.

Arsenal have the advantage but it’s come at a cost, as William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu came off injured.

45+4′ Arsenal 1-0 Sporting CP

(Arsenal lead 3-2 on aggregate)

Ugarte doesn’t have much space on the edge of Arsenal’s box but still manages to shoot through the traffic and nearly scores at the far post.

45+2′ Arsenal 1-0 Sporting CP

(Arsenal lead 3-2 on aggregate)

Xhaka is shown a yellow card after cynically bringing Trincao down in midfield to prevent a quick break.

45′ Arsenal 1-0 Sporting CP

(Arsenal lead 3-2 on aggregate)

Sporting are finding a way back into the game. Arsenal created a series of chances after taking the lead, but in the past five minutes the visitors have asserted themselves.

Four minutes are added on to the end of the first half here.

41′ Arsenal 1-0 Sporting CP

(Arsenal lead 3-2 on aggregate)

St. Juste makes a great run from deep in midfield all the way to the front of Arsenal’s box. He hits a powerful shot but it flies well over the target.

38′ Arsenal 1-0 Sporting CP

(Arsenal lead 3-2 on aggregate)

Memories of Sporting’s bright start in the opening 15 minutes have faded, as Arsenal have really grown into the game since going ahead.

Sporting’s best opportunities have come on the counterattack, with Arsenal controlling the majority of possession otherwise.

The offside flag has perhaps been the biggest impediment to the home side adding to their lead.

30′ Arsenal 1-0 Sporting CP

(Arsenal lead 3-2 on aggregate)

Jesus shows incredible skill to glide through the Sporting defence and shoot through a defender’s legs, forcing another big save from Adan.

The Arsenal forward is looking for his first goal since October 1.

28′ Arsenal 1-0 Sporting CP

(Arsenal lead 3-2 on aggregate)

Arsenal work a corner well as Zinchenko finds Martinelli, who forces a good save from Adan.

The goalkeeper immediately sends the ball long for Edwards, who’s isolated one-on-one with Zinchenko in the Arsenal box but fails to take advantage of the situation.

Our readers in the US can check out the replay of Arsenal’s opening goal here:

Our readers in the UK can check out the replay of Arsenal’s opening goal here:

24′ Arsenal 1-0 Sporting CP

(Arsenal lead 3-2 on aggregate)

Vieira is booked after a reckless challenge.

23′ Arsenal 1-0 Sporting CP

(Arsenal lead 3-2 on aggregate)

Notable that Jesus was running towards his own goal rather than the opposition goal in the move that put Arsenal 1-0 ahead.

He has so much variety to his game and is happy for others to break in behind.

21′ Arsenal 1-0 Sporting CP

(Arsenal lead 3-2 on aggregate)

Saliba comes off injured now, the second Arsenal defender to do so in the opening half hour after Tomiyasu. He’s replaced by Holding.

19′ Arsenal 1-0 Sporting CP

(Arsenal lead 3-2 on aggregate)

Jorginho plays a brilliant through ball that releases Martinelli down the left wing. Adan saves his ensuing shot, but the rebound comes right out to Xhaka who sweeps it home for the lead!

“To the Arsenal one-nil” is heard around the Emirates.

18′ Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP

(Tied 2-2 on aggregate)

Jorginho goes down under contact in the Sporting box. The Emirates crowd howls for a penalty but referee Mateu Lahoz isn’t impressed.

16′ Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP

(Tied 2-2 on aggregate)

Nelson hits a cross into the Sporting box for Jesus at the back post. The Brazilian’s contact isn’t great but he still forces Adan into a diving save.

Arsenal’s best moment thus far.

15′ Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP

(Tied 2-2 on aggregate)

Jorginho looks for Jesus with a ball over the top, but his pass is just a bit too strong and Adan collects.

13′ Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP

(Tied 2-2 on aggregate)

Trincao cuts inside a defender and hits a powerful shot with his left foot from the edge of Arsenal’s box. It takes a bounce and doesn’t miss the far post by much.

Sporting are definitely on the front foot here.

11′ Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP

(Tied 2-2 on aggregate)

Huge noise from the travelling Sporting fans here. Probably boosted by some numbers from south-west London where there’s a huge Portuguese community.

The “Ashburton Army” trying to hit back.

(All photos by Getty Images)

9′ Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP

(Tied 2-2 on aggregate)

Tomiyasu limps off and is replaced by White.

8′ Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP

(Tied 2-2 on aggregate)

Tomiyasu is receiving treatment after slipping and overextending his left leg as he attempted to mark Trincao.

Ben White is putting his kit on. Mikel Arteta is giving an animated team talk, as he tends to do during interludes in matches.

5′ Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP

(Tied 2-2 on aggregate)

The opening few minutes saw Arsenal control the ball but not do much with it. Sporting are enjoying their first spell of now and are keeping Arsenal pinned in their own half.

1′ Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP

(Tied 2-2 on aggregate)

We’re underway at the Emirates!

In the US: Streaming on Paramount+

In the UK: Airing on BT Sport 2

The first four Europa League second-leg matches of the day have concluded:

• Real Betis 0-1 Manchester United, Manchester United advance 5-1 on aggregate
• Feyenoord 7-1 Shakhtar Donetsk, Feyenoord advance 8-2 on aggregate
• Freiburg 0-2 Juventus, Juventus advance 3-0 on aggregate
• Fenerbahce 1-0 Sevilla, Sevilla advance 2-1 on aggregate

Mikel Arteta spoke to BT Sport before kick-off about the importance of getting Gabriel Jesus back:

A welcome sight for Arsenal supporters, who haven’t seen this man in the XI since November:

Refresh your memory with the key moments from the first leg’s 2-2 draw here:

Bukayo Saka completed eight dribbles in the first leg against Sporting, the most by a player aged 21 or younger in a Europa League game since Calvin Stengs completed 10 for AZ against LASK in February 2020.

He’s on the bench today, but if Mikel Arteta feels he needs him in the game, Saka could make a real impact.

(All photos by Getty Images)

Sporting have been eliminated in 21 of their previous 22 European knockout ties in which they failed to win the first leg at home.

However, the exception in this run was the most recent instance, as they beat Midtjylland in this season’s Europa League play-off round after a 1-1 draw at home in the first leg.

Sporting give us a sideline view of their goals from the first leg:

Arsenal have lost just one of their nine home games against Portuguese clubs in all European competition (W7 D1), a 1-3 defeat to Benfica which saw them eliminated from the 1991-92 European Cup.

Sporting, meanwhile, are winless in their past nine away games against English sides in major European competition (D4 L5) since beating Middlesbrough 3-2 in the 2004-05 UEFA Cup last 16.

Mikel Arteta receives a significant boost today as Gabriel Jesus makes his first start for Arsenal since returning from the injury he suffered during the World Cup.

Jesus’ return is especially helpful given the manager said yesterday that Eddie Nketiah is still a few weeks away from returning from the ankle injury he suffered during the 4-0 win over Everton on March 1.

Nketiah did a fine job deputising for Jesus in his absence, scoring six goals in 11 starts in all competitions.

Mikel Arteta selects a strong line-up, making four changes from the XI he used in the first leg.

Aaron Ramsdale gets the nod in goal over Matt Turner while Gabriel and Takehiro Tomiyasu come into the defence in place of Jakub Kiwior and Ben White.

Finally, Gabriel Jesus starts in place of Bukayo Saka.

Saka is one of several dangerous options for Arteta on the bench, along with Martin Odegaard and Leandro Trossard.

Sporting CP make two changes to the starting line-up they deployed in the first leg.

Manuel Ugarte returns from suspension along with Ousmane Diomande.

They come in for Hidemasa Morita and Sebastian Coates, both of whom are suspended.

The Emirates Stadium in London:

After an entertaining 2-2 draw in Portugal last week, there’s much to look forward to in the return fixture between Arsenal and Sporting Lisbon.

Say that to any of the travelling fans, though, and they won’t be happy.

Sporting are not, as they are regularly referred to in the English-speaking press, ‘Sporting Lisbon’. They are Sporting Clube de Portugal officially, or Sporting CP, or simply Sporting. Whereas once this error was overlooked and forgiven, in recent years Sporting fans have become more militant about it. A “NOT Sporting Lisbon” campaign on social media in 2016, launched by fans and supported by the club, made this clear.

But why does this happen? Is it English ignorance? Is it something more sinister? Or is it just convenient to include the location of the club?

Michael Cox has more below.

Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Fulham on Sunday was Mikel Arteta’s 100th since taking charge of the team in December 2019. His win percentage of 59.5 is the highest of any manager in the club’s history.

Jordan Campbell and Thom Harris have crunched the numbers on the manager’s century of victories, with an eye towards how the squad has evolved during that time:

• 2.0 non-penalty expected goals per 90 minutes this season, compared to 1.4 in Arteta’s first season.
• Average changes to the starting XI: 3.0 during the 2019-20 season but 0.9 now.
• Only four players remain from his first game in charge.
• The squad’s average age is down from 25.7 in the 2020-21 season to 24.3 now.

Check out their story below, in which they also look at the areas where Arsenal still trail Manchester City.

(All photos by Getty Images)