sport news Sporting Lisbon 2-2 Arsenal: Xhaka's deflected cross earns draw after hosts ... trends now
As time ticked down towards this tea-time kick-off, as the players emerged from the tunnel, huge sections of this ageing arena lay silent and empty. Not many fans. Not much atmosphere or electricity, either.
An hour later, once chaos had taken centre stage and this Europa League last-16 first leg had descended into frenzy, this place had become a hive of noise and anarchy. Somehow, at the end of it all, Arsenal and Sporting were on terms.
Somehow, they had shared only four goals.
And how Arsenal will take that. They head into next week’s second leg in command without ever really being in control.
This was low on quality and high on carnage – best encapsulated by five minutes of bedlam, midway through the second half, that began with Gabriel Martinelli collecting possession inside his own half. The auxiliary No 9 turned and beat a couple of defenders, he bundled through another and suddenly he was through on goal. Martinelli rounded the goalkeeper, only for Jeremiah St Juste’s last-ditch tackle to prevent an incredible solo goal.
Arsenal defender William Saliba opened the scoring in the 22nd minute
Saliba put the visitors ahead with a towering header from a corner by midfielder Fabio Vieira
Before long, it was Sporting’s turn to wonder: what if? Fine interplay put Paulinho in at the other end but he spooned the chance high and wide and within a minute, Arsenal were level. Granit Xhaka’s attempted cross took a huge deflection which diverted it beyond Antonio Adan. That made it 2-2 and ensured the Premier League leaders escaped with parity.
They had led through William Saliba’s early header, only for Sporting to turn this game on its head through Inacio and Paulinho.
Mikel Arteta’s side were well off it, in truth. Ex-Tottenham youngster Marcus Edwards was tormentor in chief for Sporting, who sit fourth in Portugal’s top flight and were without ex-Gunner Hector Bellerin.
But this tie remains in Arsenal’s grasp. Just.
After all of Arteta’s secrecy and smirks and slippery answers, Gabriel Jesus wasn’t even in the country. The Brazilian is back in training but not back to full-fitness. He is not alone – Kieran Tierney didn’t travel either, Martin Odegaard did but was left out. Both are ill. Both Eddie Nketiah and Leandro
