Arsenal are out of the Europa League! Sporting come out victorious by winning 3-5 on penalties.
Granit Xhaka put the Gunners in front in the 19th minute with a brilliant goal. But Sporting’s Pedro Goncalves pulled a suprise by catching Aaron Ramsdale off his lines with a worldy.
Goncalves goal forced the tie to extra time where both team slugged it out. It came to penalties to decide who will move to the next round. Gabriel Martinelli could not bury his penalty and Santos scored the winning penalty for Sporting!
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2nd Extra time
105 minutes played, 15 to go. Feels like the momentum is with Arsenal
1st Extra time
Here we go, first-half of extra time is up and running.
Full time
End of 90 mins. 1-1, 3-3 on aggregate. Win or lose, you suspect the last thing Arteta wanted tonight was extra-time. But in truth, Arsenal are a little lucky to get that far. Sporting were superb in that second half.
Goal! Arsenal 1-1 Sporting
Goncalves from pretty much the halfway line has spotted Ramsdale off his line and launched an effort at goal that has floated perfectly over the goalkeeper!
Second half
Up and running again at the Emirates. A change for Arsenal, with Jesus brought off and Trossard coming on. Got to imagine that was always the plan.
Half-time
Arsenal really need half-time. Ugarte now brings the ball forward, fires at goal and it flicks just wide. Corner.
Swung in to the near post, headed wide by Trincao. And that’s half-time in north London.
Goal! Arsenal 1-0 Sporting
Their first good spell of the match and it’s brought the opening goal. Martinelli played in on the left, his shot is saved but the rebound falls for Xhaka and he slams it into the back of the net.
Kick Off!
And so it begins!
Starting XI
A first start back for Gabriel Jesus, big news for Arsenal ahead of a crucial final two months of the season.
Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard get a rest as they drop to the bench, with Reiss Nelson starting out wide and Fabio Vieira coming into the midfield. Jorginho replaces Thomas Partey.
Mikel Arteta has opted against sticking with Matt Turner in goal in Europe, with Aaron Ramsdale starting.
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