Arsenal are preparing for their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Sporting. The Gunners hold a 1-0 lead from the first leg. The match provides a chance to boost morale before their Premier League match against Manchester City on Sunday.
Team Lineups and Absences
Mikel Arteta had suggested that Bukayo Saka or Jurrien Timber might feature in the game, but neither are in the lineup. Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori are also absent. Declan Rice, who missed training, is included in the squad.
The confirmed lineups are as follows:
Arsenal: Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Eze, Martinelli; Gyokeres. Subs: Arrizabalaga, Setford, White, Jesus, Norgaard, Trossard, Havertz, Dudziak, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman, Salmon.
Sporting: Rui Silva; Eduardo Quaresma, Diomande, Goncalo Inacio, Araujo; Hjulmand, Morita; Catamo, Francisco Trincao, Pedro Goncalves; Suarez. Subs: Joao Virginia, Debast, Geovany Quenda, Vagiannidis, Kochorashvili, Faye, Daniel Braganca, Joao Simoes, Flavio Goncalves, Salvador Blopa, Rafael Nel, Ricardo Mangas.
François Letexier (France) will be the referee for the match.
Arsenal’s Champions League Record
This is Arsenal’s 12th Champions League game of the season. They have won 10 and drawn one of the previous 11. Europe is their happy place, and this the only competition in which they’ve played and not lost over the last month.
During that time, they’ve been knocked out of the FA Cup by Southampton, lost a League Cup final to Manchester City, and lost at home to Bournemouth.
Historical Record Against Portuguese Teams
English clubs have a strong record in two-legged Champions League ties against Portuguese opponents. They have 10 wins in a row since Benfica beat Liverpool in 2005-06. Their record in Champions League or European Cup quarter-finals against Portuguese opponents is also strong: played nine, won nine.
Sporting haven’t won a competitive match in England in 10 attempts since they beat Middlesbrough 3-2 in the 2004-05 Uefa Cup.
Arteta’s Pre-Match Message
Mikel Arteta addressed the Arsenal supporters before the game. After a home defeat against Bournemouth, Arteta this time delivered a more considered message. “No fear. Pure fire,” said the Arsenal manager. “That’s what I want to see from the players, from the people, from myself. That’s it. Go for it because the opportunity is unbelievable. We are in April, we have an incredible opportunity ahead of us. Let’s go for it.”
Arsenal will be aiming to capitalise on their first-leg lead and advance in the Champions League.