Arsenal will switch their attention to the pending task in the Champions League, as they aim to go past Sporting CP at the Emirates.
Mikel Arteta insisted it was a ‘punch in the face’ in the aftermath of Arsenal’s shock loss to Bournemouth at the Emirates, putting their Premier League title race in jeopardy. It was indeed a big blow to their title challenge, given they play Manchester City next, with only a six-point lead keeping them at the top, while Pep Guardiola’s side have a game in hand.
For now, Arteta will switch his attention away from the league and onto the Champions League, where they still have pending business before they can register their name as a semifinalist. They do have a slender advantage over Sporting CP owing to Kai Havertz’s solitary goal that came at the death in the first leg and proved to be the winner.
Form is of concern when analysing Arsenal at the moment, but Arteta will believe in his squad to get through to the last four of the Champions League. Reaching the semifinals in consecutive seasons will be a mark of progress, but going a step further will be seen as the absolute target for the Gunners, as Sporting CP currently stand in their way in this second leg of their quarterfinal.
Sporting CP will also come into this clash with a morale-boosting win at the weekend against Estrela Amadora, which kept them within touching distance of leaders FC Porto, who have also played a game more than Rui Borges’ side. There is certainly pressure on the reigning champions to deliver a third straight Portuguese league title, but for now, the focus will be on their Champions League task.
The source of worry for Borges is Sporting CP’s record of never winning a two-legged European knockout game after losing the first leg by a single goal margin. In fact, they have lost 13 of their 14 such ties after losing the first leg, with their only success coming against Brondby in the 2010-11 Europa League.
Borges will certainly want to change that unwanted record, and might feel the pressure on Arsenal could favour the Portuguese giants, making this the best time to face the Premier League leaders. The last time they played the Gunners at the Emirates was in the 2022-23 Europa League quarterfinals, when they triumphed on penalties to advance to the next round.
Team News & Tactics
Arsenal
There were some notable absentees at the weekend, but also returnees, as Eberechi Eze came off the bench while Piero Hincapie was an unused substitute. Declan Rice was missing from training leading up to the Sporting CP game, as Arteta was coy on whether the influential midfielder would play a part. He was also cautious about giving updates on Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber, but stated that one of them could be available.
It might be Saka, as Arteta insisted he was very close to making the Bournemouth game. Hence, it could be a case that Timber misses out again, as has been the case for a few weeks now. Ben White should be the one deputising again for the Dutchman at right-back, while Hincapie might come in for Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back.
Should Rice miss out, Arteta must make a big decision on his starting midfield pairing, especially with Martin Odegaard likely to miss out again. Assuming the England international starts, Martin Zubimendi is pencilled in to partner him there, while Eze could return to the starting lineup in the attacking midfield role at the expense of Kai Havertz.
Should Saka be deemed fit only for the bench, Noni Madueke is best placed to start on the right wing, while Leandro Trossard might return to the lineup on the left. Former Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres drew a blank at the Jose Alvalade in the first leg, and he will want to make his mark in the fixture at the Emirates with a goal as he leads the line.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1) – Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Eze, Trossard; Gyokeres
Sporting CP
Sporting CP come into this clash in north London without any fresh injury concerns, with Nuno Santos, Fotis Ioannidis and Luis Guilherme the only players absent.
There was some confusion from the first leg over 33-goal striker Luis Suarez’s involvement after it was noted that he would miss the second leg, having picked up a yellow card. It turned out to be an administrative error, as the Colombian striker is indeed available for the second leg.
More importantly, Borges can welcome his skipper and key midfielder Morten Hjulmand back into the mix after he missed the first leg through suspension, as the Danish star will slot straight into the lineup alongside Hidemasa Morita in the middle.
Goncalo Inacio and Ousmane Diomande will marshal the defence, with Ivan Fresneda and Maxi Araujo in the full-back roles. Trincao will play the attacking midfield role, with Geny Catamo and Pedro Goncalves on the wings in support of centre-forward Suarez.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1) – Silva; Fresneda, Inacio, Diomande, Araujo; Morita, Hjulmand; Catamo, Trincao, Goncalves; Suarez
Key Stats
- Arsenal are undefeated in their last six matches against Sporting CP in all competitions
- Arsenal are undefeated in the Champions League this season
- Sporting CP have lost 13 of their last 14 European knockout ties when losing the first leg
- Sporting CP have never won a two-legged European knockout tie when losing the first leg by a one-goal margin on home soil
Player to Watch
Eberechi Eze
The fluidity in the attacking third has been Arsenal’s big problem over the last few weeks, and it was on show at the weekend when they struggled for goals against Bournemouth. The same could be said about their clashes with Manchester City, Southampton and Sporting CP before, as Eze could be key to unlocking that particular issue.
Eze was performing at a high level before he sustained a calf injury, and there were some glimpses of what Arsenal missed at the weekend. Now, it is up to Arteta to unleash the former Crystal Palace star into the mix and allow him to dictate the play in a way that brings a level of fluidity back into Arsenal’s attack.
Prediction
Arsenal 2-1 Sporting CP
Sporting CP will come into this one knowing they can inflict further damage on Arsenal amid their ongoing dip in form. However, they might end up finding a different team with regard to mentality at the Emirates, as
Arteta’s men have a point to prove, and their advantage from the first leg is likely to play its part.
Arsenal will be eager to prove the doubters wrong and, more importantly, get their bearings right at this crucial stage of the season. Arteta’s side are expected to secure passage into the semifinals, but they remain somewhat susceptible to conceding chances — and with that, a goal at some stage.