Mikel Arteta takes his Arsenal side to Lisbon on Tuesday night as they take on Sporting CP in the Champions League, with the hosts settling into life after Ruben Amorim. With the head coach now departed for Manchester United, the Primeira Liga leaders are under the guidance of Joao Pereira from this point onwards, with his first game resulting in a 6-0 cup win against lower-league opposition.
This will be somewhat of a bigger test, but Sporting have the comfort of points on the board after Amorim led them to 10 points from four games, leaving them second in the expanded Champions League table, behind only Liverpool. Arsenal have been a little less consistent, with seven points accrued to put them 12th – good enough for a playoff spot but not automatic qualification, so improvements are needed if that remains the aim.
One big issue is the Gunners’ away form in Europe, with just one away win in eight years in this competition. Follow the live blog below for team news and match action from Sporting v Arsenal:
Sporting 0-2 Arsenal
40 min: Edwards dribbles purposefully towards the box but he’s eased off the ball by Saliba, and Sporting’s brief bit of momentum ends abruptly.
Lawrence Ostlere26 November 2024 20:39
Sporting 0-2 Arsenal
38 min: Another good chance for Arsenal as Odegaard feeds Saka on the right side. Saka cuts inside and shoots from about 15 yards but it’s blocked, and when the ball falls to Rice in the box he smashes his shot well wide from a tight angle.
Lawrence Ostlere26 November 2024 20:38
Sporting 0-2 Arsenal
35 min: Sporting keep giving the ball away in their own half, and it’s making it easy for Arsenal to dominate right now. Over on TNT Sports, Steve McManaman is getting high-pitched irate with the Sporting players.
Lawrence Ostlere26 November 2024 20:37
Sporting 0-2 Arsenal
32 min: Saka scoops a smart pass into Havertz behind the Sporting defence, but the German dithers and lets it bounce, and allows Israel to come out to smother the chance.
Lawrence Ostlere26 November 2024 20:34
Sporting 0-2 Arsenal
29 min: Saka cuts inside from the right side and fires off a well-struck shot, which Israel gets down low to his left to claim.
Lawrence Ostlere26 November 2024 20:31
Sporting 0-2 Arsenal
27 min: Calafiori fouls Trincao on Sporting’s right wing and they have a free-kick, but it’s overhit and David Raya can claim it.
Lawrence Ostlere26 November 2024 20:30
GOAL! Sporting 0-2 Arsenal (Havertz, 22 min)
Partey chips a lovely pass into the path of Saka’s arcing run into the box from the right wing, who slips the ball across for Kai Havertz to tap home from close range. Two similar goals, slicing Sporting’s left flank open.
Lawrence Ostlere26 November 2024 20:23
Sporting 0-1 Arsenal
20 min: The ball bounces out invitingly to Thomas Partey on the edge of the box, but the midfielder’s shot bounces straight into the gloves of Israel.
Lawrence Ostlere26 November 2024 20:21
Sporting 0-1 Arsenal
18 min: Morita is so slick on the ball for Sporting in central midfield, and the Japanese international turns neatly before spraying a pass out to the left wing. Arsenal win it back though and head up the other end, where Martinelli’s blocked cross earns a corner.
Lawrence Ostlere26 November 2024 20:20
Sporting 0-1 Arsenal
15 min: Arsenal defend a couple of corners in succession as Sporting try to push for the equaliser, but they visitors are proving hard to break down.
Lawrence Ostlere26 November 2024 20:18
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