Arsenal vs Sporting Lisbon LIVE: Gunners aim to reach Europa League quarter-finals against Portuguese giants who struggle in England

Arsenal need to beat Sporting Lisbon to secure their place in the Europa League quarter-finals tonight.

The Gunners drew 2-2 with Sporting in a thrilling first leg last week and will be confident of progressing when they return to European competition at the Emirates.

AFP

In Portugal, the hosts seemed at times the better side but Hidemasa Morita’s own goal equalized for Arsenal and they were the happiest with the result.

Mikel Arteta’s side are now favorites to advance and are encouraged by the fact that their opponents have not won a game in England since 2005.

Arsenal vs Sporting: How to follow

This Europa League round of 16 second leg takes place on Thursday 16 March.

Kick-off in the Emirates is scheduled for 8 p.m.

The game will be streamed live on BT Sport 2 with coverage starting at 7.15pm.

talkSPORT will have updates on all the promotions throughout the evening, while talkSPORT.com will also be running a live blog.

To set up talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 via the website, click on HERE for the live stream.

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, via DAB digital radio, via your smart speaker and via 1089 or 1053 AM.

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Arsenal vs Sporting: Team News

Gabriel Jesus will most likely be in Arsenal’s squad for the clash after making his long-awaited return to action at the weekend.

However, Arteta said his minutes are still being managed and was keen to let fans know not to get too carried away.

Eddie Nketiah is expected to remain on the sidelines as he continues to recover from his ankle injury.

Ex-Gunner Hector Bellerin will again be absent from Sporting due to injury.

Morita and Sebastian Coates were both cautioned in the first leg and will be suspended for the Emirates meeting.

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Arsenal vs Sporting: what was said?

Arsenal boss Arteta knows his side need to do better in the second leg if they want to progress.

He said: “We want to win, just like we did in Lisbon.

“But we have to do better than in Lisbon to win against Sporting tomorrow.”

He also commented on Jesus’ fitness and potential playing time.

“It was great to see him again and you can feel the joy of everyone around him – fans, players and staff,” said Arteta.

“Finally having him, we missed him and now he’s back. We have to manage his minutes, we have to manage his commitment in the squad, in the team, but he’s feeling good.

“And every day that he’s in training he says the sensations are getting better and better, so that’s really positive.”

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Arsenal vs Sporting: game facts

• Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka completed eight dribbles in the first leg against Sporting, the most by a player aged 21 or under in a UEFA Europa League game since Calvin Stengs completed 10 for AZ against LASK in February 2020, and the most by an English player at such an age since Callum Hudson-Odoi for Chelsea v Malmo FF in February 2019 (9).
• When Sporting failed to win a two-legged first leg in major European competition, they were eliminated in 21 of their previous 22 ties, although the most recent exception was beating FC Midtjylland in this season’s UEFA Europa League-away-round after a 4: 0 second leg away win.
• Arsenal are without a win in their last three home games of the UEFA Europa League knockout stages (D2 L1), the last such win against Portuguese opponents coming in a 3-2 win over Benfica in February 2021.
• Since beating Middlesbrough 3-2 in the 2004/05 UEFA Cup Round of 16, Sporting have been without a win in their last nine away games against English clubs in major European competitions (D4 L5).
• Arsenal have lost just one of their nine home games against Portuguese clubs in all European competitions (win 7, draw 1), a 3-1 defeat by Benfica which eliminated them in the 1991/92 European Cup round of 16.