UCL: Sporting CP v Arsenal

No Rest.

After a humiliating cup exit at Southampton in the FA Cup, Arsenal return to action in the Champions League. They will Face Sporting Lisbon in the quarter-finals. With consecutive domestic cup exits at a critical juncture of the season, Mikel Arteta will be desperate to right the ship on the European stage.

Rui Borges’s Sporting Lisbon have won all five of their CL matches at home so far this season, conceding just three goals. Most recently, they overcame a 3-0 deficit against Bodoe/Glimt in the competition to advace 5-3 on aggregate. Captain Morten Hjulmand will be suspended for the first leg, while experienced wingback Nuno Santos will miss through injury. In Francisco Trincão, Pedro Gonçalves, and Luis Suárez, Sporting have more than enough threat to damage an Arsenal defense that has appeared wobbly in recent weeks.

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal were without many key players against Southampton, and whether these players will be available for Sporting remains to be seen. Gooners will welcome David Raya back between the sticks. Viktor Gyökeres will be relishing a return to his former club and will be desperate to start. Given his goal against Southampton and his recent exploits for Sweden, his form should warrant inclusion. Arsenal’s dreams rest in their fitness, and the likes of Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber, and Declan Rice will hopefully be suiting up on Tuesday.

Can Arsenal get a much needed win on the board? Or will Sporting pull off a surprise and send Arsenal into full blown meltdown? Join us at Dillon’s on Tuesday afternoon. Let’s do what we do best!

VCC


UTA

KEEP THE FAITH ✊