Arsenal have been making hard work of our League games lately but we have hung on to our 5 point lead at the top of the Premier League, despite the occasional heart-stopping moments.
But now we have the Europa League fixtures back on the calendar, we must expect to see a bit more rotation than we are used to under Mikel Arteta, but we still have to have a strong enough team to make sure we progress to the quarter finals.
We know that we have now hit a good run of form with four wins in a row after our earlier blip, but with a rotated team it will certainly not be an easy trip to Lisbon on Thursday.
It is worth rembering that away from hone the Gunners have recently lost at Everton and at Man City in the FA Cup, and as for our Europa games this season we also 2-0 away at PSV but still finished top of our group.
But Sporting are no slouches, and in their last 12 games, have only lost to the Portugese giants Porto (twice), since the middle of January, so will not lack much in confidence, especially in front of their fanatical home crowd, who will be buzzing to see their team put up a good fight against Arsenal on Thursday as they aim for their 5th win in a row.
Sporting Club came to The Europa via the Champions League group stages, where they had home defeats to Marseille and Eintracht Frankfurt, but it must be mentioned that in September they beat the Sp*ds 2-0 in Portugal, and also managed a 1-1 draw when they visited the Toilet Bowl.
So, the fact is that the Gunners cannot go in feeling too overconfident, and I am sure that Arteta is keen to go as far as possible in the competition, and give some well-needed minutes to our less regular squad members.
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If we need to rest players I would. Don’t get me wrong I’d love to win this trophy but at the end of the days the main prize is to get into the Champions League. Considering we are almost guaranteed to get into the UCL barring the biggest bottle in football history, I’d rather make winning the EPL the main focus.
If none of our players need a rest and don’t have niggles then by all means, play them.
It’s difficult to predict a starting X1 due to sickness in the squad, so there will probably be younger players traveling, and perhaps even some who might otherwise get a deserved rest. Early kick-off, so lots of post-match banter potential.😜
I’m sure Vieira will be one of the starters today. Maybe Nelson on the left wing and Martinelli in the CF position, because Nketiah and Trossard are injured
Perhaps a good time for some players to shake on the rust or get a chance to impress.
Turner in goal, Holding and Kiwor at CB, and Tomi at RB. Jorginho has played well, and Xhaka can start after a brief rest.
I’d rather see Vieira at the 10 spot because he’s too lightweight and soft to be a CM. Injuries limit rotation in the attack unfortunately.
This competition is a distant 2nd to the PL crown in my opinion, and we get 2 bites at this apple. I feel we’re good for a win at Emirates in the 2nd leg, so ihope we focus on the PL title.
Martinelli.
Nelson. Fabio. Saka.
Xhaka. Jorginho.
Tierney. Kiwior. Saliba. Tomiyasu.
Turner.
SUBS – Ramsdale, Smith-Rowe, Odegaard, Partey, Holding, White, Zinchenko.
It looks like Arsenal will tonight at Lisbon have an in-form Spurting CP team to play against in the Europa League Cup last 16 first leg match on their hands to deal with.
But despite that Sporting CP are a strong top Portuguese League team side, and are currently in top form.
Notwithstanding their being in-top form and alsp playimg at home.
But Arsenal who are also in-top form and a top of the Epl MUST find a way in the game to dismantle Sporting CP in the match to beat them.
And dismantle them in the game and beat them to begin their journey to win the Europa League Cup this season on the front foot.
Therefore, to be on the safer side of things in the ga,me. I will implore Arteta to field his strongest team he has on the night for the match. So that Arsenal will avold getting embarrassed with a draw a loss in the match. But beat Sporting CP to win the match and win it.