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Sporting CP vs Arsenal preview: Prediction, team news & lineups

By James Cormack

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (R) shouts instructions to the players from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Everton at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 1, 2023. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (R) shouts instructions to the players from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Everton at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 1, 2023. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) /
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A jubilant Gunners return to Europa League action on Thursday evening as they travel to Sporting CP for the first leg of their round of 16 tie. 

Arsenal advanced automatically into the last 16 after winning their group last autumn, while the Portuguese side qualified via the play-offs after being eliminated from the Champions League. Ruben Amorim’s men finished third in a group containing familiar foes Tottenham.

Questions will be raised over the club’s priorities heading into this fixture given their current standing in the Premier League, but while Mikel Arteta may use the full extremes of his squad, there’s no way he’ll be taking this competition lightly.

The Europa League is a major opportunity for the Gunners to bolster their continental pedigree and win the competition.

Sporting CP vs Arsenal preview: Prediction, team news & lineups

Here’s our preview of Arsenal’s trip to Lisbon on Thursday.

How to watch Sporting CP vs Arsenal on TV

When is kick-off? Thursday 9 March

What time is kick-off? 17:45 (BST)

Where is it played? Estádio José Alvalade

TV channel/live stream? BT Sport 1(UK), Paramount+ (US), DAZN (Canada)

Referee? Tobias Stieler (GER)

Sporting CP team news

Manuel Ugarte picked up his third booking of Sporting’s European campaign last time out against Midtjylland and will miss Thursday’s game as a result. Teenager Mateo Tanlongo is poised to replace Ugarte in Amorim’s starting XI and partner Hidemasa Morita in midfield.

There are no fresh injury concerns for the hosts, with former Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin set to be named on the bench.

Arsenal team news

The Gunners are dealing with a mini-injury crisis in attack with both Leandro Trossard and Eddie Nketiah poised to join Gabriel Jesus on the sidelines for the trip to Lisbon.

Without a recognised striker in his squad, Arteta will likely deploy Gabriel Martinelli and a central position and bring in either Reiss Nelson or Emile Smith Rowe into the front line. Bukayo Saka will have to continue down the right.

Fabio Vieira will earn minutes in midfield, while Jorginho should come in for Thomas Partey. There could be game time for January arrival Jakub Kiwior with Kieran Tierney and Matt Turner also earning rare starts.

Sporting CP vs Arsenal predicted lineups

Sporting: Adan; Inacio, Coates, St. Juste; Esgaio, Tanlongo, Morita, Reis; Edwards, Paulinho, Goncalves

Arsenal: Turner; Tomiyasu, Saliba, Kiwior, Tierney; Jorginho, Vieira, Xhaka; Saka, Martinelli, Nelson.

Sporting CP’s recent form

Portimonense 0-1 Sporting CP (04/03) – Primeira Liga

Sporting CP 2-0 Estoril Praia (27/02) – Primeira Liga

Midtjylland 0-4 Sporting CP (23/02) – Europa League

Chaves 2-3 Sporting CP (20/02) – Primeira Liga

Sporting CP 1-1 Midtjylland (16/02) – Europa League

Arsenal’s recent form

Arsenal 3-2 Bournemouth (04/03) – Premier League

Arsenal 4-0 Everton (01/03) – Premier League

Leicester 0-1 Arsenal (25/02) – Premier League

Aston Villa 2-4 Arsenal (18/02) – Premier League

Arsenal 1-3 Man City (15/02) – Premier League

Prediction

Sporting proved their competence during the Champions League group stage, but their domestic form would suggest Arsenal may be simply too good for the Portuguese side. However, with Arteta poised to rotate his pack, there’s no way the Gunners will saunter to victory.

Amorim’s a fine coach and his Sporting side are on a bit of a run heading into Thursday’s game. They’ll go with their strongest XI and it’ll be interesting to see how the visitors cope. A rotated side struggled at times in the group stage last autumn, and Sporting are comparable to the PSV outfit the Gunners lost to 2-0 away from home.

I’ve got a feeling this may not be the most thrilling of encounters, and Arsenal’s makeshift frontline may fail to fire.

Prediction: Sporting CP 1-0 Arsenal