Arsenal put one foot through the door to the next round of the Europa League by beating Sporting 1-0 a fortnight ago and can confirm top spot in Group E on Thursday night if they beat the same team travelling from Portugal.
Arsenal have a maximum 9 points from 3 games in the Europa League and despite their 11-game winning run in all competitions coming to end in the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park two weeks ago, they maintain an unbeaten run over the last 14 games. While the Gunners have drawn 2 of their last 3 games, it has come with more positives than negatives. Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool will have upped the belief amongst the players and fans that the team can go toe-to-toe with Europe’s best.
Danny Welbeck’s 77th minute strike was the difference at Estadio Jose Alvalade and Unai Emery must be thinking they can do the double over their nearest challenger in the group. Erstwhile Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger took Arsenal to the semi-final of this competition last season and Emery will know he has to go one step further by winning the competition. The Gunners need to return to the Champions League next season and this competition affords them another opportunity outside a top 4 finish in the Premier League.
If Sporting had the full complement of the squad they had last season, it’s more likely they would have given Arsenal a run for their money in the group. Club ultras attacked the squad over the summer and many players cancelled their contracts in response. Sporting have also gone through some managerial changes in recent times. Serbian Sinisa Mihajlovic was appointed in June this year but was relieved of his duties 9 days later. He was replaced with Jose Peseiro. The team lost for a fourth time this season on the last day of October and the defeat ended Jose Peseiro’s term as manager with Sporting President Frederico Varandas left unimpressed with the club’s position and performances. The Green and Whites are currently third in the Portuguese Primeira with 19 points from 9 games played, 2 points off league leaders Porto.
Team News
Petr Cech is expected to continue his return from injury by replacing Bernd Leno in goal. Guendouzi is likely to start after serving a suspension in the Liverpool game over the weekend. Other players expected to get a look in for more minutes are Ramsey, Smith-Rowe, Welbeck and Maitland-Niles. The fitness of Monreal, Sokratis and Kolasinac will be assessed prior to this game. Koscielny and Mavropanos are still out.
Bas Dost has returned from injury for Sporting and may be included in the starting XI. Abdoulaye Diaby and Rodrigo Battaglia were injured over the weekend and will face a fitness test. Raphinha, Stefano Sturaro and Stefan Ristovski are still out and will miss this game while defender Jeremy Matthieu will likely start despite still struggling for fitness.
Verdict
Unai Emery is taking every game seriously. His team are in form and confidence is sky-high right now. Sporting on the other hand are a team in transition. With the game set for the Emirates, home support for Arsenal and their form should see them win this comfortably
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