Resuming their quest for an elusive continental crown, Arsenal travel to the Estadio Jose Alvalade XXI for the first leg of their Europa League last-16 clash with Sporting Lisbon on Thursday night.

The Gunners progressed as winners from Group A to set up a tie with Ruben Amorim’s former Champions League contenders, who dished out a 5-1 beating to FC Midtjylland in the playoffs.

In the UEFA Europa League (UEL) Round of 16 for the fourth time, Sporting Lisbon will welcome Premier League (PL) leaders Arsenal in fine form, with their recent 1-0 win at Portimonense stretching their unbeaten competitive run to five matches (W4, D1), albeit they remain 15 points behind the title pace in Portugal. However, they’ve already overcome a North London PL side in the shape of Tottenham this season (2-0) on matchday two of the Champions League, and they’ve only tasted defeat in one of their three home UEL games against English opposition (W2).

Yet that one defeat did come against their opponents here back in 2018 (1-0). The Gunners look like a much tougher opponent this time round too, with Sporting manager Rúben Amorim even labelling them “out of this world” in the build-up. He did, however, claim his side still have a chance, but they’ll need to improve on five defeats from their last nine European home games (W3, D1) in order to give themselves the best chance of progression.

We may, therefore, see a shake up in the starting XI. Yet even if we do, many will fancy the away side to bag a positive result, especially given their record of just two defeats across their last 16 UEL away matches (W11, D3). Although, the aforementioned win at this venue was their only success from their last seven European visits to Portugal (D3, L3), suggesting this game might not be as easy as many predict for the PL’s first-placed side.

Players to watch: Sporting’s Héctor Bellerín made 239 senior appearances for Arsenal and scored in his current side’s last home encounter. His ex-teammate Reiss Nelson grabbed a goal and assist in his first appearance of 2023 for Arsenal on Saturday.

Hot streak: Each of the last five UEL goals conceded by Arsenal came in away games.

Sporting Lisbon Europa League form:

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Sporting Lisbon form (all competitions):

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Arsenal Europa League form:

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Arsenal form (all competitions):

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Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:

Adan; Inacio, Coates, St. Juste; Esgaio, Tanlongo, Morita, Reis; Edwards, Paulinho, Goncalves

Arsenal possible starting lineup:

Turner; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Xhaka, Jorginho; Saka, Odegaard, Smith Rowe; Martinelli

With Sporting being forced to bring in at least one inexperienced midfielder to cover for stalwart Ugarte, Arsenal would no doubt take advantage in normal circumstances, but a wealth of attacking injuries does not bode that well for Arteta’s side.

While the Gunners should not share the same fate as North London rivals Tottenham did on Sporting’s turf, they might have to be content with a draw before the two sides reconvene at the Emirates on March 16.