Arsenal advanced directly to this tie with the Portuguese team after finishing at the top of their group, which included PSV Eindhoven, Bodo/Glimt, and FC Zurich.
On the other hand, after a goalless draw at home, the Lisbon team won 4-0 in Denmark to eliminate Midtjylland in the play-off round and secure their place in the Europa League. Previously, they played in the Champions League this season but finished third in their group behind Tottenham Hotspur and Eintracht Frankfurt, earning them a spot in the Europa League.
Arsenal’s first leg against Sporting in the Europa League will follow their game against Liverpool at Anfield, and their match against West Ham may be rescheduled to Sunday afternoon. After the home tie against Sporting, Arsenal will play against Southampton. Moreover, in recent years, Arsenal fans have never been this optimistic about their teams’ performance. Sports betting fans of gunners are also eager to place their bets in online casinos.
Arsenal couldn’t face Manchester United in the round of 16 due to the teams being from the same association. If both teams advance to the quarter-finals, Arsenal may face Erik ten Hag’s side for the third time this season, after already having played them twice in the Premier League.
The first match will occur on Thursday, March 9, at Estadio Jose Alvalade, with the second leg scheduled for Thursday, March 16, at Emirates Stadium. The exact time of the kick-off has yet to be announced. These matches come amid Arsenal’s Premier League fixtures against Bournemouth, Fulham, and Crystal Palace.
Sporting Lisbon is currently in fourth place in La Primeira Liga, with a comfortable 7-point lead over 5th place but 8 points behind 3rd. Arsenal will face Hector Bellerin, who moved to Sporting Lisbon during the January transfer window.
Arsenal has been matched with Sporting for the third time in European competition. The first time was during the 1969/70 season when they drew 0-0 in an away game before winning through a John Radford goal and a brace from George Graham. They went on to have a successful Fair Cup run.
The second time was in 2018 when they played two Europa League group games against them. Arsenal drew 0-0 at Emirates Stadium and won the second game away from home after Danny Welbeck’s goal.
Final Thoughts
The draw for Arsenal against Sporting is considered excellent but challenging. Arsenal is a strong team that other teams try to avoid in the draws. They are considered the second-favourite team to win the competition after Manchester United, which is surprising given Arsenal’s current position in the Premier League. However, this might be due to recent form and people’s tendency to bet on Manchester United.
