Mikel Arteta’s young Arsenal side is down to just one competition in the 2022-23 campaign after the Premier League pace-setters crashed out of the round of 16 of the Europa League during a swashbuckling 1-1 draw with Sporting CP that resulted in a penalty shootout loss to Rúben Amorim’s Portuguese giants.
On a night where the Gunners could have perhaps made a statement that they were capable of making a deep run in the continent to keep at pace with rivals Manchester United, Arsenal failed to make a host of chances count, leaving no excuses if they fail to kick on and secure their first Premier League win in nearly twenty years.
Arsenal are out of the Europa League after losing 5-3 on penalties to Sporting Lisbon! pic.twitter.com/YuxILMx77o
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 16, 2023
The early exchanges between the two sides had seen Arsenal suffer another bite from the injury bug after Takehiro Tomiyasu was forced off with what appears to have been a knee injury after slipping on the slick surface when challenging Francisco Trincão, which thrust Arteta into an early change on a night where Ben White was meant to be rested.
Sporting looked the brighter of the two sides early on, however, and the best chance of the opening stages of proceedings fell to Trincão in the 13th minute when he was put through into space down the right channel before shaking Jorginho to cut inside on his left foot, but his resulting effort could only bend wide of Aaron Ramsdale’s far post.
Despite the slow start, Arsenal quickly grew into the match after the wake-up call and would take a 1-0 lead on the night through Granit Xhaka who slammed home a rebound after Adán had done well to initially deny Gabriel Martinelli who was through on goal.
But Arsenal fans did not enjoy celebrations for long after key center-back William Saliba became the second player to walk off the pitch due to a possible lower back injury while being replaced by Rob Holding in what could end up as a hammer blow to the club’s chances both at home and abroad should it turn out to be serious.
Rúben Amorim’s side came out of the half-time interval swinging after the restart just as they did early in the first half, with a handful of half-chances coming in the opening five minutes as Sporting was desperate to level matters on the night and force extra time.
Sporting finally leveled with an absolute wonder goal from Pedro Gonçalves who scored from just inside Arsenal’s half over Ramsdale just after the Portuguese side regained possession on the center line when Paulinho dispossessed Jorginho.
Pedro Gonçalves masterclass 😮💨pic.twitter.com/bPacglU6kg
— GonçaloDias17 (@goncalo_diass17) March 16, 2023
Just one minute later Spoting nearly took the lead through a Paulinho header after the striker met Marcus Edward’s inswinging corner free and clear in the area but could only graze his effort over the bar. Nevertheless, Sporting was in the mood to upset the Premier League leaders on the night and was standing toe-to-toe with the Gunners on merit.
It was Sporting to once again find another key chance, with Edwards bursting through the middle to receive into space before smashing his one-on-one effort with Ramsdale into the England internationals as the Portuguese continued to knock on the door.
Extra time would see Leandro Trossard nearly turn up with a hero’s effort in the 98th minute when he found himself through on goal against Adán after outpacing Sporting’s backline, but his effort was deflected just enough by the SCP shot-stopper to watch the Belgian’s effort hit the far post and bounce clear. Holding would head over the bar from close range after being found by substitute Bukayo Saka during the only minute of added time in the first period of extra time, with Arsenal now back in the mood to find a match-winner to avoid the drama of a penalty shootout.
Arteta’s men then had two further chances just before the end of extra time, but Adán again denied the north London outfit a chance to find a winner before the eventual penalty shootout loss.
It is hard to be too concerned from an Arsenal perspective given their standing in the league, but many fans will still feel hard done and will be left wondering when European success is on the cards.
📰 Table Of Contents
Arsenal Player Ratings
- GK: Aaron Ramsdale – 6.5
- RB: Takehiro Tomiyasu – 6
- CB: William Saliba – 6.5
- CB: Gabriel Magalhães – 7.5
- LB: Oleksandr Zinchenko – 7
- CM: Jorginho – 6
- CM: Granit Xhaka – 8.5
- CAM: Fábio Vieira – 5.5
- RW: Reiss Nelson – 6.5
- LW: Gabriel Martinelli – 7.5
- CF: Gabriel Jesus – 7
- Sub: Ben White – 7
- Sub: Rob Holding – 6.5
- Sub: Leandro Trossard – 6.5
- Sub: Bukayo Saka – 6.5
- Sub: Thomas Partey – 6.5
- Sub: Martin Ødegaard – 6.5
Sporting CP Player Ratings
- GK: Antonio Adán – 8.5
- RCB: Jeremiah St. Juste – 7
- CB: Ousmane Diomande – 7
- LCB: Gonçalo Inácio – 6.5
- RWB: Ricardo Esgaio – 6.5
- LWB: Matheus Reis – 6.5
- CM: Pedro Gonçalves – 8.5
- CM: Manuel Ugarte – 6
- RAM: Marcus Edwards – 6.5
- LAM: Francisco Trincão – 7
- CF: Paulinho – 7
- Sub: Youssef Chermiti – 6
- Sub: Dário Essugo – 6
- Sub: Nuno Santos – 6
- Sub: Arthur Gomes – 6
- Sub: Tanlongo – N/A
Key Data & Performers
HT: Arsenal 1-0 (3-2) Sporting:
xG: 0.77-0.3
Shots: 5-5
Shots on target: 5-0
Big chances: 2-0
Touches in opp. box: 15-5
Possession: 51%-49%Granit Xhaka’s 5th goal of the season gives the Gunners a slender lead. #UEL pic.twitter.com/atlc2UrXDL
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) March 16, 2023
📳 Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 23 games in all competitions when leading at half time (W22 D1). #UEL
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) March 16, 2023
Granit Xhaka’s first half by numbers vs. Sporting CP:
91% pass accuracy
7 ground duels won
3 tackles won
2/2 dribbles completed
1/1 aerial duels won
1 yellow card
1/1 long balls completed
1 goalThe difference so far. 👏 pic.twitter.com/ZGmRwsxUjP
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) March 16, 2023
Gabriel Jesus’ game by numbers vs. Sporting:
100% shot accuracy
6 touches in opp. box (most)
6 passes in the final third
4 duels won
2 successful take-ons
2 shot on target
1 foul wonReplaced by Leandro Trossard at HT. #UEL pic.twitter.com/ZrIoNGYkZg
— Squawka (@Squawka) March 16, 2023
Gabriel Jesus (6) had more touches in the opposition box than the entire Sporting side combined in the first half (5).
He also had more shots inside the box (2-1) and more shots on target (2-0). #UEL
— Squawka (@Squawka) March 16, 2023
Pedro Gonçalves is the first player to score against Arsenal at the Emirates in the #UEL this season.
46.05 yards. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/nZyt3YFThv
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) March 16, 2023
Pedro Goncalves’ game by numbers vs. Arsenal:
80% pass accuracy
6 ground duels won
4 tackles won
3 key passes
3 long balls completed
2/2 dribbles completed
2/2 aerial duels won
1 interception
1 goal
0.08 xGStunning equaliser. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/TdOp4SwqdM
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) March 16, 2023
2 – This will be Arsenal’s 23rd penalty shootout in all competitions (won 14 & lost 8 of their previous 22) and just their second at home, after a 9-8 shootout win against Rotherham at Highbury in the League Cup back in October 2003. Nerves.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 16, 2023
Expert Takes & Social Media
After 4 months out with a knee injury, Gabriel Jesus returns to the Arsenal starting XI 🔴#UEL pic.twitter.com/aSQmo6fB9O
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 16, 2023
“We really missed him.” 👊
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is looking forward to welcoming Gabriel Jesus back into his starting line-up.#UEL pic.twitter.com/9cqy8cIS5z
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 16, 2023
Edwards is back in North London 🗺️@SportingCP_en || #UEL pic.twitter.com/DT1A4TB3UV
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) March 16, 2023
Pre-match thoughts from Mikel Arteta:
“The priority is tonight, to perform at the highest level individually and collectively.
“To put a performance there that is going to help us for the next game. That’s the focus.”
LIVE: https://t.co/AFXVaX45Cc#ARSSCP | #UEL pic.twitter.com/F4oY2nmuHP
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) March 16, 2023
Arsenal have been forced into an early change as Takehiro Tomiyasu can’t continue.
He’s replaced by Ben White in the 9th minute. #UEL
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) March 16, 2023
Arsenal completely off the pace in the opening 15 minutes here. First time since November 9th, against Brighton in the League Cup (3-1 defeat) that they have started a match without one of Saka or Odegaard.
— Sam Dean (@SamJDean) March 16, 2023
A captain’s contribution 🙌
Granit Xhaka comes up with a big goal for Arsenal and The Emirates is rocking.#UEL pic.twitter.com/UIMewlYGEb
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 16, 2023
Saliba appeared to be indicating his lower back.
— gunnerblog (@gunnerblog) March 16, 2023
Here’s a stat for you. All of Granit Xhaka’s five goals this season have come when Gabriel Jesus has been on the pitch. Xhaka had not scored since October 23rd before today.
— Sam Dean (@SamJDean) March 16, 2023
#AFC concede an astonishing long-range goal. Nayim proportions. Pedro Concalves from 50 yards over the despairing Ramsdale and in.
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) March 16, 2023
That’s an astonishing goal from Pedro Goncalves and Sporting deserve to be level, on the balance of play. Saka and Partey coming on for Arsenal.
— Sam Dean (@SamJDean) March 16, 2023
Arsenal just can’t cope with the intensity of Sporting. The arrival of Partey and Saka has done nothing to stem the tide. The home side are hanging on.
— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) March 16, 2023
Marcus Edwards was so free when he received that pass through the center of defense that I thought Arsenal were playing a man down
— Zito (@_Zeets) March 16, 2023
RED CARD 🟥
Sporting down to 10#ARSSPO #UEL https://t.co/otY744dawZ
— Mail Sport (@MailSport) March 16, 2023
Antonio Adán, take a bow. pic.twitter.com/tZmnAoxX6G
— Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) March 16, 2023
Antonio Adán keeps denying Arsenal 🧱
(via @TUDNUSA)pic.twitter.com/2A5DxTZwoa
— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 16, 2023
