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Sporting CP 2-2 Arsenal – Europa League result

Arsenal could not beat Sporting as the Portugal club remain perfect record against North London sides this season.

Sporting CP 2-2 Arsenal – Europa League result as Gunners and and Sporting produced four-goal thriller in the Europa League Round of 16 first leg.

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Sporting CP 2-2 Arsenal

Arsenal has been in astonishing form this season, but their performances have also had fans on roller-coaster of emotions occasionally.

Gunners took the lead, went behind and then eventually scored the equalizer to earn a draw at Sporting’s Estádio José Alvalade.

The first half’s highlights were set-pieces, with William Salaba headed to break the deadlock, before Goncalo Inacio left the two sides on level at the break.

Clear-cut chances were there but without being fully taken by two teams on a humid atmosphere.

Saliba lit the game by scoring the opener from Fabio Vieira’s corner. The 21-year old defender (3 goals) has now scored more goals in all competitions for Arsenal this season than Richarlison (2) has scored for Tottenham in all competitions this season.

But the visitor’s joy lasted only for 12 minutes, as Sporting refused to be cowed by their concession.

In an near-identical situation, Inacio nodded the equalizer past Matt Turner from a Marcus Edwards set-piece.

It was all square before the interval, but Sporting was a better side when the game restarted.

Paulinho’s tap-in put Ruben Amorim’s men on the lead only 10 minutes within the second half. Turner pulled a good save from Pote attempt, but the ball went straight to Paulinho, who fired home from close range.

But this season was almost destined to see Arsenal came back from behind, even though sometimes it needed a little luck.

Hidemasa Morita own goal just beyond the hour mark handed Mikel Arteta’s Premier League leaders slight hope of a famous double winning season still on track.

Mikel Arteta brought Emile Smith-Rowe and Thomas Partey in the 71st minute in bid to find an decisive goal, which did not came.

Second leg at Emirates next week will be an exciting game to watch, even for neutral fans, as both teams are going in a winner-takes-all contest.

Opta facts

• Sporting have avoided defeat in four European games against English opposition, winning one and drawing three.
• Arsenal have now won only one of their past six European knockout stage games, drawing three and losing two.
• Since the World Cup, four of the 17 goals Arsenal have conceded have come from corners, compared to just two of 17 prior to the international break.
• Paulinho is only the second player to score against Arsenal and Tottenham in a single season in European competition, after Youssef El Arabi for Olympiakos in 2019-20 (excluding qualifying rounds).
• Saliba scored his first goal in a European club competition. No Premier League centre-back has scored more goals this season than his three.

Next up for two teams

Local league returns with Arsenal traveling to Fulham while Sporting hosting Boavist, both on Sunday.