Arsenal visit Sporting CP in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Tuesday night at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.
The Gunners eased past Bayer Leverkusen in the previous round, comfortably dispatching the German side 3-1 over two legs. However, since overcoming Kasper Hjulmand’s outfit, Mikel Arteta’s side have lost the Carabao Cup final and been dumped out of the FA Cup by Championship high-flyers Southampton.
Thus, it’s pivotal that the North Londoners put an end to this mini-slump ahead of the resumption of the Premier League on Saturday by bringing a positive result back from Lisbon to N5. A potential semi-final encounter with either Barcelona or Atletico Madrid awaits them, and Arteta will no doubt use these exciting match-ups as fuel to motivate his team upon their trip to the Portuguese capital.
| Date | Result | Competition |
| 26/09/2024 | Sporting 1-5 Arsenal | Champions League |
| 16/03/2023 | Arsenal 1-1 Sporting (3-5 on pens) | Champions League |
| 09/03/2023 | Sporting 2-2 Arsenal | Champions League |
| 08/11/2018 | Arsenal 0-0 Sporting | Europa League |
| 25/10/2018 | Sporting 0-1 Arsenal | Europa League |
Confirmed Arsenal XI vs Sporting
After naming a makeshift side away at Southampton, Arteta was always likely to revert to something more conventional in Lisbon. The majority of the Spaniard’s key players are back and available, and he has therefore deployed a typical set-up, with just a few areas of contention.
David Raya, William Saliba and Gabriel are all starting. While it was assumed that Jurrien Timber would start at right-back if he passed a late fitness test, the Dutchman is unavailable. As a result, Ben White has been tasked with stepping up in his absence.
Riccardo Calafiori has been favoured at left-back because Piero Hincapie isn’t ready, while Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi have returned to Arsenal’s midfield. Martin Odegaard produced a positive return performance against the Saints, and has been rewarded for this showing with a start against Sporting.
Meanwhile, Noni Madueke, Leandro Trossard and Viktor Gyokeres will form the Gunners’ front three. Bukayo Saka has not been passed fit to be named in the squad but the likes of Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli have all been asked to wait in reserve.
Confirmed Arsenal line-up vs Sporting: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard; Madueke, Gyokeres, Trossard.
Sporting vs Arsenal Prediction
Sporting currently sit second in the Portuguese top flight, five points behind leaders Porto, who have played a game more than Rui Borges’ side. They have a crucial clash against Benfica to come, as well as a cup final against Porto to look forward to, and thus, Borges may have his eyes set on other prizes.
That said, this is the first time Sporting have ever reached this stage of the competition, and they’ll be eager to prove that this was no mirage. Ultimately, however, it shouldn’t matter.
Even if the Gunners play a conservative game in the first leg, they should have far too much for a side they are significantly stronger than. If they aren’t able to overcome Sporting, then serious questions will be asked of them.
Prediction: Sporting 1-2 Arsenal
