Arsenal vs Sporting CP | 2022/23 EL

Let’s take a look at the team news as Arsenal host Sporting CP in the Europa League round of 16 second leg. The Gunners are looking to finish off their opponents on Thursday after securing a valuable 2-2 first-leg draw. Both teams have won 3-0 in their domestic leagues, with Arsenal beating Fulham and Sporting CP triumphing over Boavista.

The north London side have been involved in several scoring games this season and are second in the Premier League having been involved in 17 games by more than two goals. Despite a difficult spell, they have won their last five league games and currently lead the table by five points over their only title rivals Manchester City.

On the other hand, the Portuguese cannot fight for the league title as they are far behind leaders Benfica. However, they are still fighting for a Champions League spot next season and have a lot of work to do to secure it. It’s obvious that their focus isn’t just on the Europa League. Victory in London will be a big challenge for them, especially after failing to win against Arteta’s men in the first leg.

Injury/Exclusion List:

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had recently claimed that Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus would not be suitable for the Fulham game just for both players to appear in the game. However, the club may have to deal with other injury problems, with Eddie Nketiah potentially out until after the international break with an ankle problem and Mohamed Elneny remaining sidelined with knee surgery.

Fabio Vieira, who Arteta praised as Arsenal’s most dangerous player in the first leg, could make a comeback in this game along with Kieran Tierney, Emile Smith Rowe, Jorginho and goalkeeper Matt Turner. Despite some shaky moments in the first leg, Turner is still eligible for a start.

On the other hand, Sporting are missing Hidemasa Morita and Sebastian Coates, both of whom have received their third bookings. However, Manuel Ugarte is now available again after his suspension and is expected to replace Morita in midfield. Antonio Adan, Hector Bellerin and Daniel Braganca are all set to miss the game for the Portuguese club.

Players to watch: Pedro Goncalves

The Portugal winger has led the team in many ways this season, particularly in the goalscoring department. He regularly hits the scorer charts and defeats some of the most prominent opponents. He has scored 16 goals in all competitions this season, assisting nine times (stats via Transfermarkt).

Pedro Goncalves is adept at finding gaps between opposing midfield and defence, making him a difficult player to mark. He has excellent technique that allows him to dribble past defenders and create chances for himself and his teammates.

His vision and passing are also top notch as he can deliver through balls to unlock defense and create quality scoring chances. He is a creative player who can set the pace of the game using traits like fast feet, tight control and tempo changes.

Arsenal Form:

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Sporty CP form:

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Expected Arsenal starting line-up (4-2-3-1):

Matt Turner (GK); Ben White (RB), William Saliba (CB), Gabriel (CB), Kieran Tierney (LB); Granite Xhaka (CDM), Jorginho (CDM); Bukayo Saka (RW), Fabio Vieira (CAM), Leandro Trossard (LW); Gabriel Martinelli (ST)

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Estimated result:

Armory 3-2 Athletic CP

Arsenal have struggled in the defensive third, conceding only easy goals lately, and they may not have much success this time either, with their defense restructured against Sporting CP’s fierce attacking unit. But the Primeira Liga side are struggling defensively themselves and Mikel Arteta’s men shouldn’t have much trouble outperforming their opponents at home.

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