Arsenal 1-1 Sporting Lisbon: Arsenal knocked out of Europa League in penalty shootout defeat
Arsenal were eliminated on penalties by Sporting Lisbon at the Emirates Stadium in the Europa League round of 16.
Gabriel Martinelli’s free-kick was saved by goalkeeper Adan before Nuno Santos struck the winner to spark cheers from the Sporting players after an eventful and entertaining draw.
A sensational long-range chip from Pedro Goncalves from 46 yards out forced extra time after Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka had earlier landed a rebound in the opener.
Arsenal defender Gabriel came agonizingly close twice in the final minutes of extra time when his header tipped over the bar and then he was able to clear a shot from the goal line.
Sporting’s Manuel Ugarte was also sent off after a dangerous slip against Bukayo Saka minutes from the penalty shoot-out win.
There were constant chances in that frenetic second leg as Arsenal substitute Leandro Trossard hit the post in extra time gifting the ball and went through a one-on-one with the keeper only for Adan to touch him on the woodwork.
Sporting forward Marcus Edwards, previously at Tottenham, was also thwarted by goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale minutes after Goncalves made it 1-1 in regular time.
Visitors will find out their quarter-final opponents in Friday’s draw (11:00 GMT).
The rotation isn’t paying off for Arsenal
Despite the score being 2-2 on aggregate before the game, Mikel Arteta made five changes to Arsenal’s starting XI as he attempted to take full advantage of his squad amid a Premier League title race.
There was a welcome return for striker Gabriel Jesus, who had started for the first time since December after recovering from a knee injury but failed to convert before the break.
And Arteta was dealt an early blow when injuries to defenders William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu forced him to make first-half substitutions.
Sporting started well, controlling possession and creating numerous chances, although Xhaka’s powerful goal gave Arsenal a narrow lead.
They also had a number of chances immediately after Goncalves’ impressive equalizer – Paulinho headed over the bar and Edwards was thwarted by Ramsdale.
England goalkeeper Ramsdale had a busy evening while Trossard, Martinelli and Gabriel Adan tested at the other end.
Arsenal’s European trip is coming to an end but Arteta’s concern will be the impact it could have on their Premier League campaign.
Injuries to key defenders and 120 minutes of grueling action are not ideal preparation for the next league game against Crystal Palace in three days.
Freak Goal catches the busy Ramsdale
Arsenal goalkeeper Ramsdale was in the middle of the action but ultimately had no say in the penalty shoot-out.
Goncalves’ bold chip from just over the halfway line in regulation time had Ramsdale crawling back to his goal in a helpless attempt to stop it.
The equalizer stunned Arsenal and they were then pushed back for minutes before Ramsdale responded with an excellent save to deny Edwards as he rushed on target.
When extra time began it seemed inevitable that Ramsdale would come up again in a penalty shootout and he nearly made his mark, touching his fingertips to Gonçalo Inacio’s penalty only to see it nestle into the post , as Ramsdale’s lopsided smile crossed his face.
The defeat ended a six-game unbeaten run in all competitions for Arsenal.
player of the game
AdanAntonio Adan
Sporty Lisbon
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squad number1player nameAdan
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squad number11player nameNuno Santos
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squad number32player nameTanlongo
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squad number33player nameArthur Gomes
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squad number10player nameEdwards
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squad number28player namepot
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squad number26player namediomande
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squad number25player nameGonçalo Inácio
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squad number3player nameSt Just
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squad number79player nameYoussef Chermiti
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squad number84player nameDario Essugo
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squad number2player nameMatthew Reis
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squad number20player namePaulinho
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squad number47player nameRicardo Esgaio
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squad number17player nameTrincao
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squad number15player nameUgarte
lineups
arsenal
formation 4-3-3
- 1Ramsdale
- 18TomiyasuReplaced byWhiteat 9′protocol
- 12SalibaReplaced byHoldat 21′protocolBooked at 71 minutes
- 6Gabriel
- 35Zinchenko
- 21Fabio Viera24 minutes bookedReplaced byØdegaardat 101′protocol
- 20JorginhoReplaced bylotat 65′protocol
- 34Xhaka45 minutes booked
- 24NelsonReplaced bysakeat 65′protocol
- 9Gabriel JesusReplaced byTrossardat 45′protocol
- 11Martinelli
Substitute
- 3Tierney
- 4White
- 5lot
- 7sake
- 8thØdegaard
- 10Smith Rowe
- 15kiwis
- 16Hold
- 19Trossard
- 30gymnast
- 56Hillson
Sporty
formation 3-4-3
- 1Adan
- 3St Just
- 26diomandeBooked at 118 minutes
- 25Inácio
- 47de Sousa Esgaio
- 15UgarteBooked at 118 minutes
- 28Pereira GoncalvesReplaced byEssugoat 94′protocol
- 2Rice de LimaReplaced byGomes dos Santosat 94′protocol
- 10EdwardsReplaced byTanlongoat 119′protocol
- 20Dias FernandesReplaced byRamalho Chermitiat 90′protocol
- 17Machado TrincaoReplaced byGomes Lourencoat 105′protocol
Substitute
- 6Alexandropoulos
- 11Gomes dos Santos
- 12Israel
- 13Novo Neto
- 16Costa Rocha
- 18Fatawu
- 32Tanlongo
- 33Gomes Lourenco
- 77Borges Cabral
- 79Ramalho Chermiti
- 82Spain Fernandes
- 84Essugo
- Referee:
- Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz
live text
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The game ends, Arsenal 1 (3), Sporting Lisbon 1 (5).
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Penalty shootout ends, Arsenal 1(3), Sporting Lisbon 1(5).
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Goal! Arsenal 1 (3), Sporting Lisbon 1 (5). Nuno Santos (Sporting Lisbon) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the top right corner.
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Penalty saved! Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) misses this great chance, the right footed shot is saved in the center of the goal.
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Goal! Arsenal 1 (3), Sporting Lisbon 1 (4). Arthur Gomes (Sporting Lisbon) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
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Goal! Arsenal 1(3), Sporting Lisbon 1(3). Leandro Trossard (Arsenal) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
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Goal! Arsenal 1(2), Sporting Lisbon 1(3). Gonçalo Inácio (Sporting Lisbon) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.
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Goal! Arsenal 1(2), Sporting Lisbon 1(2). Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.
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Goal! Arsenal 1(1), Sporting Lisbon 1(2). Ricardo Esgaio (Sporting Lisbon) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
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Goal! Arsenal 1(1), Sporting Lisbon 1(1). Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner.
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Goal! Arsenal 1, Sporting Lisbon 1(1). Jeremiah St Juste (Sporting Lisbon) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top left corner.
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Penalty shoot-out starts Arsenal 1, Sporting Lisbon 1.
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Second half extra time ends, Arsenal 1, Sporting Lisbon 1.
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Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Dário Essugo (Sporting Lisbon).
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Substitution at Sporting Lisbon. Mateo Tanlongo replaces Marcus Edwards.
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Manuel Ugarte (Sporting Lisbon) is second yellow carded for a bad foul.
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Ousmane Diomande (Sporting Lisbon) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Ousmane Diomande (Sporting Lisbon).