Hector Bellerin to miss Arsenal reunion as UEFA confirm Sporting CP’s double Europa League blow
When the Europa League round of 16 draw took place and Arsenal met Sporting CP, many dubbed the tie the ‘Hector Bellerin derby’.
Admittedly, the idea of the Spaniard taking on his former club became possible when Barcelona – who he joined from the Gunners last summer after the transfer closed – fell into the aforementioned competition after falling behind in their Champions League group Bayern Munich and Internazionale had finished third.
And although Bellerin was back on the move as fate would have it in the January transfer window, she was called up for an immediate Arsenal reunion and it was a scenario Mikel Arteta eagerly awaited ahead of last week’s first leg at Lisbon.
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“Regarding Hector: I love the person, love the player. He was a really important player for our club – he left something that transcends his career but also as a person at our football club,” the Gunners manager said at the pre-match press conference. “It will be great to see him tomorrow. And I’m sure the boys and the team will be very happy to see him again.”
Unfortunately, Bellerin was denied a chance to play against his ex-team-mates after suffering a knee injury during a training session last Wednesday and missing out on Sporting CP’s 3-0 win over Boavista at the weekend. It remains to be seen if he will recover in time for the trip to the Emirates Stadium.
Referring to Sporting CP team news ahead of Thursday night’s decider at N5, it has already been confirmed that captain Sebastian Coates and Hidemasa Morita – who scored the own goal that allowed Arsenal to equalize in the second half – will be unavailable due to suspension.
Still, Manuel Ugarte is looking to return after serving his one-game ban last week and Sporting CP head coach Ruben Amorim has made it clear his side will “try everything” in the second leg to reach the Europa League quarter-finals at the Gunners’ expense.
“Before the game, all sports inguistas would have assumed that result. But when you look at what happened, it’s hard to accept and nobody can be satisfied,” he said. “We didn’t manage to score and at crucial moments we suffered first from a dead ball and then from a rebound. Nevertheless, we showed a very competent game. We should have scored a goal or two more but it’s good that there’s a bittersweet feeling because we’re here to win and not just take part.
“We’re going to London with the goal of going through. We know Arsenal will have their crowd there but if we were a goal or two ahead it would be very different. We’ll play our game and try to do it.” The opponent is nervous because we have the ability to have the ball.
“We know we will suffer a lot and if we have to defend with everyone in front of goal then we will do it. We firmly believe that we will progress.”
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