Arsenal will look to advance to the quarterfinals of the Europa League when they welcome Sporting to the Emirates, so let’s take a look at the latest team news.
The Gunners got a morale boosting win at the weekend as they beat their London rivals Fulham. That kind of professionalism will be expected if they are to get the better of the visitors. Given that the tie is at 2-2, there is no time to be complacent.
As for the team news, Mohamed Elneny is the only one who is out in a long-term capacity. There was much to be happy about at the weekend as Gabriel Jesus made his long-awaited return. Whether he will start against Sporting, remains to be seen.
One other player who could miss out is Eddie Nketiah, as the striker is recovering from an injury. Having Leandro Trossard back in the team will give Mikel Arteta a huge boost and also, options to play around with.
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The north Londoners were not at their best in the first leg and that has made the return leg that much more important. There were many moments in Lisbon where it looked like a mistake was coming. That has to be avoided if they are to win on Thursday.
At the Emirates, it is necessary to be on the money right from the first minute. That kind of pressure will make it easier to break down the visitors. Getting the likes of Bukayo Saka and Reiss Nelson to attack the wing backs will be crucial in creating chances.
Sporting are a dangerous team, both from counter attacks and set pieces so, the hosts need to be careful. It is the job of the central midfielders to be aware of the runners that can bypass the press and get into scoring positions.
Arsenal have the talent to pull off the result they need and Arteta will hope that his players can be up to the job. The game will be decided based on how well the hosts can maintain their shape while defending transitions. The players need to remember that there is a good chance to make this season even more memorable.
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