Europa League: Will Gunners Give Lisbon A Sporting Chance?

Arsenal vs Sporting Lisbon

Mikel Arteta’s high flying Arsenal host Sporting Lisbon on Thursday with a Europa League quarter final place at stake and, after drawing 2-2 in the first leg in Lisbon, the Gunners will have bags full of confidence.    

At SBOTOP odds of 1.18 to get through to the quarter finals, the Premier League leaders are red hot favourites for this tie but, in Sporting Lisbon, they have an opponent in decent form, on a run of four wins in the league. Sporting head coach Ruben Amorim will tell his Lions of Lisbon they were ahead in the first leg and they can do it again; but Arsenal have been in superb form this season; they are holding off the mighty Manchester City in the Premier League and they will expect to beat Sporting on Thursday.

Both teams come into the game on the back of a comfortable 3-0 victory, Arsenal in a London derby away to Fulham while Sporting saw off Boavista at home, and I’m expecting to see goals in this winner takes all clash.      

Talking Points

The story so far…

The Portuguese side went toe to toe with their English visitors last week but the Gunners went ahead when William Saliba headed home from a Fabio Vieira corner at the mid point of the first half.  Lisbon hit back when Goncalo Inacio levelled with a similar header from a set piece; and the hosts went ahead when Pedro Goncalves fired in a shot which Matt Turner could only parry and Paulinho tapped home the rebound.

The hosts would have held out for a famous victory but Granit Xhaka’s speculative shot was redirected by Hidemasa Morita into his own net. Both teams had plenty of chances, Arsenal winning the shot count by 14 to ten and seven to six on target.

Sporting showed plenty of ambition and they will not fear the Gunners in the second leg, but Arsenal showed great composure under pressure and kept their trophy hunt on track. The latest Europa League 2023 betting odds back the Gunners at 3.70 to win the trophy, behind Manchester United, the current favourites at 2.85, but there will be little to choose between the two Premier League giants, should Arsenal see off Sporting on Thursday.

The way the Gunners blew in-form Fulham away on Sunday the visitors can expect a Red onslaught from the off, but Sporting too have their Europa hopes burning brightly.   

Sporting won’t sit back

Lisbon are sitting fourth in the Portuguese Primera Division with a five point gap to make up on third placed Sporting Braga, but they are on the charge having won the last four and they took that form into the first leg of this tie. They showed stacks of potential and matched the Gunners for much of the game and the Portuguese side will believe they can go deep into the competition if they can cope so well with Arsenal again.

Sporting have a dangerous attack, scoring 15 goals in the last six games and in striker Paulinho, they have an experienced goal scorer. And the stand out player from the first leg was 24 year old attacking midfielder Marcus Edwards. The Tottenham academy player and England U20 star was signed for a reported fee of £7m from Vitoria and he looked a real snip as he stretched the Arsenal defence with his speed and agility on the ball. His technical ability and passing range make Edwards an exciting player with his best years yet to come, and he will be keen to impress again when he comes up against his former North London rivals for a second time.

He’s a player sure to provide some more Europa League 2023 highlights and one the Gunners’ defence will watch closely.                  

History

Sporting are 19 times Portuguese champions and UEFA’s Cup Winners Cup champions back in 1964. Arsenal are 13 times English champions and they were Cup Winners Cup winners in 1994, and the winner of this tie has a good chance of adding another piece of silverware to their collection.   

These two teams have met just three times, and Arsenal are unbeaten with one win and two draws.  

In terms of recent form there is nothing to choose between them over the past six games, both winning five and drawing one; but Gunners fans will argue, with some merit, that their team is top of the toughest league in the world.    

Betting Tip

At 1.35 to win the Gunners are heavily fancied for this one, while Sporting fans can back their side at 6.18 to win or 4.74 to draw in 90 minutes. I suspect Arteta’s team will come through but am pretty sure we’ll see some more goals.

 

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.

Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.