Arsenal vs Sporting result and highlights as Gunners beaten on penalties in Europa League Round of 16

Joshua Thomas

Arsenal vs Sporting result and highlights as Gunners beaten on penalties in Europa League Round of 16 image

Arsenal have been knocked out of the Europa League at the Round of 16 stage after a penalty shootout defeat to Sporting CP.

After the first leg ended 2-2 in Portugal, the Gunners took the lead at the Emirates after 19 minutes via captain Granit Xhaka. 

Sporting remained a threat though and equalised in stunning fashion when Pedro Goncalves scored from just inside halfway in the 62nd minute. 

With regular time ending 1-1, Arsenal threatened to score a winner on multiple occasions in extra time but Sporting goalkeeper Antonio Adan made a number of fine saves. 

Adan would then step up again in the penalty shootout to deny Gabriel Martinelli as Sporting triumphed 5-3 on penalties to advance to the quarter finals.

MORE: When is the Europa League quarter final draw?

Saliba and Tomiyasu injury worries for Arsenal

Even before the Gunners were knocked out of Europe, their night took an early double hit.

Both Takehiro Tomiyasu and William Saliba were forced off in the first half with injuries.

While both walked from the field, their withdrawal will spark some concern and Arteta will be hoping neither are too serious as they look to maintain their lead atop the Premier League table.

Thankfully for Arsenal, they face a shot-shy Crystal Palace next in league action so may be able to get away with a weakened backline temporarily.

Gabriel Jesus shows promise on return from injury

In better news for Arsenal, Gabriel Jesus started his first match for the club since October and played 45 minutes.

The Brazilian looked pretty sharp considering his lengthy absence and could have had a goal too if it wasn’t for a good save from Adan.

Arteta was smart not to risk Jesus in the second half, with the forward now set to play a key part in the club’s Premier League title push.

The Sporting News followed the match live and provided score updates, commentary and highlights as they happened below.

Arsenal vs Sporting final score

  1H 2H ET1 ET2 Score Agg
Arsenal 1 0 0 0 1 3
Sporting 0 1 0 0 1 3

Arsenal vs Sporting penalty shootout

  1 2 3 4 5
Arsenal ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ -
Sporting ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️ ✔️

Goals:

Confirmed lineups:

Arsenal (4-4-2, right to left): 1. Ramsdale (GK) — 18. Tomiyasu, 12. Saliba, 6. Gabriel, 35. Zinchenko — 24. Nelson, 20. Jorginho, 34. Xhaka, 21. Vieira — 9. Jesus, 11. Martinelli.

Sporting (3-4-3, right to left): 1. Adan (GK) — 3. St. Juste, 25. Inacio, 26. Diomande — 47. Esgaio, 15. Ugarte, 28. Goncalves, 2. Matheus — 10. Edwards, 20. Paulinho, 17. Trincao.

Arsenal vs Sporting live updates, highlights, commentary

Full-time: Sporting win the shootout 5-4 and knock Arsenal out of the Europa League!

Penalties: Martinelli has his penalty saved as Sporting take a 4-3 lead. 

Penalties: 3-3 after six penalties. Both keepers get a hand to the latest efforts but the ball still gets past them. 

Penalties: Two more perfect penalties from both sides as Saka converts for Arsenal in cool fashion. 

Penalties: Both St. Juste and Odegaard make no mistake with their side's first spotkicks. 

End of extra time: Arsenal 1-1 Sporting

Penalties will be needed here at the Emirates after the Gunners were unable to find a winner in extra time.

120th min: One minute of injury time to come as Sporting hang on by the skin of their teeth. 

118th min: RED CARD! Ugarte fouls Saka to pick up his second yellow card of the match. Sporting down to 10 men for the final few minutes. 

117th min: SAVE! Adan does brilliantly to stop a Gabriel header and he produces another good save moments later from the resulting corner. 

115th min: Trossard picked out in the box but Sporting are doing just enough to keep the Gunners at bay here. Arsenal will need to produce something special. Speaking of, Trossard found again in the box but his back-heel pass doesn't work out. 

111th min: Sporting really sitting back here and seemingly happy to decide this one via penalties. 

110th minute: Arsenal work their way into Sporting's box but Saka's ball across the face of goal is picked off well by Adan. 

108th minute: Trossard finds Odegaard in the box but the Norwegian's swinging boot fires the ball high and wide. 

106th minute: The second period of extra time begins with Partey firing off a shot within seconds but it soars wide. 

Half-time of extra time: It remains 1-1 after a further 15 minutes. Arsenal were on top in that period but weren't able to find the all important goal. 

105th min: Arsenal win a late corner at the end of the first period of extra time. Some shoving in the box delays proceedings before Saka whips in a ball that finds the head of Holding but the defender can't keep his powerful effort down. 

103rd min: Gabriel with a strong challenge in the middle of the park which leaves a Sporting player down but seems to lift the Emirates up. 

99th min: Edwards has a shot blocked as Sporting look to start testing Arsenal's defence in extra time. 

97th min: CLOSE! Arsenal hit the woodwork after a poor give away gifts Trossard a chance but Adan gets a crucial hand to it. 

94th min: White does well to pick a ball off in Sporting's half but his ball forward is too heavy for Vieira. Arsenal looking the more lively so far in extra time. 

92nd min: Saka does well to beat his man down the left wing but Arsenal try to be too tricky in the box as they fail to get a shot away. 

91st min: Extra time begins at the Emirates. 

End of regular time: It ends 1-1 after 90 minutes, 3-3 on aggregate and we are heading to extra time!

90+3 min: Arsenal win a late corner which Trossard takes but a foul in the box prevents the Gunners from creating anything.

90th min: Sporting now stringing some possession together in Arsenal's half. Don't think either side is too keen on extra 30 minutes. As it stands, four minutes of injury-time to come. 

87th min: Momentum with the Gunners now as they search for a winner and look to avoid extra time. 

85th min: Arsenal probe and look to have won a penalty for handball but Saka was offside in the build-up so no spotkick is forthcoming. 

83rd min: A wet night has gotten even wetter for some fans tonight with the Emirates leaking a large amount of water in places. 

82nd min: Trossard whips in a dangerous corner to the back post for Arsenal but Gabriel can't keep his effort down. 

79th min: Vieira goes for goal from a free-kick but Adan is able to punch it clear. 

78th min: Martinelli fouled in an attacking area for Arsenal as they get a rare chance to test Sporting's goal in this second half.

75th min: A reminder that away goals are no longer used to determine knockout ties in the Europa League so this match is destined for extra time if scores remain level. 

72nd min: A huge save from Ramsdale to deny Edwards one-on-one! The former Tottenham attacker looked destined to score but his shot is thumped into the face of the Arsenal goalkeeper who is left slumped on the turf for his efforts. 

66th min: Arsenal make their final substitutions of the evening by bringing on Saka and Partey. 

64th min: Sporting nearly strike again as a header hits the crossbar. Arsenal reeling, well and truly on the backfoot now. 

62nd min: GOAL! Sporting equalise in stunning fashion through Goncalves who scores from just inside Arsenal's half. Arsenal cough up possession and Goncalves sees Ramsdale off his line so tries his luck and is rewarded for it with a goal to remember. 

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60th min: Arsenal with their first real foray forward in this half but Trossard takes a heavy touch in the box. The Gunners could really use a second goal to make this final 30 minutes more comfortable. 

53rd min: Martinelli fouled by Ugarte down the left flank with the Sporting man picking up a yellow for the challenge. 

51st min: Ramsdale does well to deal with a cross at his near post as Sporting start finding gaps in Arsenal's defence. 

49th min: Sporting on the front foot early here as they push for an equaliser. Arsenal still seem to be clicking back into gear after the break. 

46th min: We are back underway at the Emirates. Can Arsenal see this out or will Sporting spring a comeback? The Gunners were forced into another change at the break with Jesus off for Trossard. The Brazilian's return can only last 45 minutes as Arteta is left with just one more substitution window. 

Half-time: Arsenal 1-0 Sporting

The Gunners take a 3-2 lead on aggregate after 45 minutes at the Emirates. Xhaka with the goal for the hosts who have looked lively but also saw defenders Tomiyasu and Saliba forced off with injury concerns. Sporting have been relatively subdued but have shown enough signs they could yet make a comeback. 

45+4 min: Ugarte tries his luck from distance and nearly produces something special with a Xhaka deflection just taking the ball wide of goal. 

45+2 min: Xhaka picks up a yellow card for a foul in the middle of the park. An eventful first half for the Gunners captain. 

45+1 min: The corner comes to nothing but Sporting will have four minutes of injury-time here to create something before the break. 

45th min: Sporting win their first corner of the game as they look for an equaliser just before half-time. 

41st min: St. Juste bursts forward for Sporting but he fires his shot over the crossbar from the top of the box under pressure from Gabriel.

39th min: Jorginho guilty of a clumsy foul in the middle of the park. Referee gives him a talking to but holds off on the card for now. 

35th min: Arsenal starting to really control possession now and getting forward dangerously. Sporting doing just enough to hang on and looks like they'll be aiming to strike on the counter. 

30th min: Jesus goes close to marking his return with a goal as he gets a shot away under pressure in the box but Adan is alert to make the save at his near-post. 

28th min: Martinelli forces a good save out for Adan following a corner. Sporting race up the other end as Edwards spins in the box but has his shot blocked. This game really starting to open up. 

27th min: Arsenal suddenly finding themselves with time and space on the ball in midfield. That Xhaka has seemed to take some of the stuffing out of Sporting. 

21st min: Another forced change here for Arsenal as Saliba is replaced by Holding. Both Saliba and Tomiyasu were able to walk off relatively easily so Arteta will be hoping neither having picked up anything too serious. 

19th min: GOAL! Arsenal take the lead through Xhaka. It all starts after a stunning through ball from Jorginho, who finds Martinelli charging into the box. While the forward's effort is saved, the ball rebounds to Xhaka with the midfielder calmly powering the ball home. 

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18th min: The Gunners calling for a penalty after Viera is brought down but the referee is quick to wave it away after having a clear view of it. Replays show the Sporting man got the ball before he got any of the player.

16th min: Arsenal pinch the ball in midfield, feed it out to Nelson on the right who crosses the ball to the back stick where Jesus manages to make some contact but Adan is able to palm the ball away from goal. 

15th min: Jorginho tries to chip a ball through to Jesus but Adan is just able to come out and collect it before the Brazilian. 

13th min: Sporting winger Trincao goes for goal after cutting in on his left boot but the ball curls just wide of the far post. The best chance of the game so far. 

8th min: Arteta taking the chance during a break in play to address his team. Tomiyasu is also withdrawn due to injury with White coming on at right-back. 

4th min: A bright start here from Sporting who are looking to get forward and asking questions of Arsenal's defence from the outset. 

1st min: Arsenal look to probe forward down the left flank but the ball is just too heavy for Martinelli. 

Kick off: We are underway at the Emirates with Arsenal getting things underway. 

5 mins to kick off: Both teams are in the tunnel and preparing to come out. Sporting looking particularly serious and fcoused as they eye an upset at the Emirates. 

10 mins to kick off: Gabriel Jesus is back and starting again for Arsenal. The Brazilian could give the Gunners a huge boost in their quest for silverware this season. 

45 mins to kick off: One rough selection note for American fans is Matt Turner dropping to the bench. The U.S. starting goalkeeper had been the Cup starter for Arsenal when healthy, but struggled in the first leg in Portugal. While Mikel Arteta rotates the rest of the squad, Aaron Ramsdale is risked in goal, which is a bad sign for the American, who loses his place.

60 mins to kick off: Mikel Arteta has decided to once again rotate the squad, proving what winning the Premier League title would mean to this club. Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, and Ben White are all rested, with a host of players coming into the side as they did in Portugal.

90 mins to kick off: It's likely to be a first start for Gabriel Jesus since returning from his serious knee injury, and Mikel Arteta is excited to have him back.

120 mins to kick off: The debate about tonight's team selection by Mikel Arteta is a fascinating one. Some folks act like playing a first-choice lineup is somehow a knife to the throat of their Premier League title, which just isn't accurate, but there's certainly risk involved.

Resting players in the first leg clearly had its disadvantages, so it tracks that Arteta will see this fixture as important. Still, there could be some rotation if the Premier League is prioritised.

Arsenal vs Sporting lineups & team news

Arsenal confirmed starting lineup (4-4-2): Ramsdale (GK) — Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko — Vieira, Jorginho, Xhaka, Nelson — Jesus, Martinelli.

Arsenal subs (12): Turner, Holding, Tierney, Hillson, Kiwior, White, Partey, Odegaard, Trossard, Smith Rowe, Saka.

Sporting confirmed starting lineup (3-4-3): Adan (GK) — St. Juste, Inacio, Diomande — Esgaio, Ugarte, Goncalves, Matheus — Edwards, Paulinho, Trincao.

Sporting subs (13): Israel (GK), Neto (GK), Alexandropoulos, Nuno, Mateus, Tanlongo, Essugo, Issahaku, Chermiti, Rochinha, Cabral, Arthur.

How to watch Arsenal vs. Sporting

  TV channel Streaming
USA TUDN, Unimas fuboTV, Paramount+
Canada DAZN
UK BT Sport 2 BT Sport
Australia Stan Sport
New Zealand Spark Sport
India
Hong Kong beIN Sports 3 beIN Sports Connect
Malaysia beIN Sports 3 beIN Sports Connect, sooka
Singapore beIN Sports 3 beIN Sports Connect, StarHub TV+

Arsenal vs Sporting betting odds & lines

The Gunners are level with Sporting on the aggregate score (2-2), but the Premier League club sees itself as heavy favourites both in the 90 minutes and to advance. They are hovering around 1/3 to win the match in most places, while Sporting sit as huge 7/1 underdogs.

While that might be selling the Portuguese side a bit short, it's clear that Arsenal are deserving of their pedestal, as even their second-choice lineup was good enough for a draw in the first leg.

There's some confusion over the flow of this game, as the betting market thinks it will be difficult for Sporting to find the back of the net, but the total goals over is still juiced up to around 2/3.

  Arsenal
win
Draw Sporting
win
Both teams
to score Y / N
Over / Under
2.5 goals
Arsenal
advance
Sporting
advance
BetMGM
(USA)
-275 +400 +700 +100 / -140 -155 / +110 -650 +380
Sports
Interaction

(Canada)
-303 +397 +695 -110 / +141 -154 / +115 -667 +370
SkyBet
(UK)
1/3 19/5 15/2 1/1, 8/11 2/3, 11/10 1/8 9/2
Neds
(Australia)
1.33 4.80 9.00 1.95 / 1.75 1.64 / 2.15 1.14 5.20
Dafabet
(India)
1.38 5.40 8.40 2.02 / 1.80 1.71 / 2.20 1.18 5.40

Joshua Thomas

Joshua Thomas Photo

Josh has been covering sport for nearly a decade now having fallen in love with football at a young age. A UTS graduate, Josh has previously worked for GOAL and now covers football closely for The Sporting News.