
<p>After a thrilling <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/arsenal-sporting-draw-in-europa-league-first-leg-20230309-WST-422884.html">2-2 draw</a> in the first leg of their <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/europa-league-tv-schedule/">Europa League</a> round of 16 tie, Arsenal and Sporting faced off again at the Emirates on Thursday. This game, much like the first, was end to end throughout, with both sides playing aggressive.</p>



<p>For much of the game, Sporting looked the two more likely to score. The Portuguese side not only ripped more shots in the direction of Aaron Ramsdale. Many of the chances created came oh so close. In the first half, though, they all were left wanting. </p>



<p>Instead, it was Arsenal that grabbed the opener. And, at that time, it poised to be a similar showing for what Arsenal does in the Premier League. Grab the lead, dominate possession and shut the game down. Yet, two first-half substitutions due to injury would make that task more challenging. </p>



<p>Jorginho played an inch-perfect pass into the run of Gabriel Martinelli. The Brazilian’s attempt met the leg of Adán in goal. However, the rebound came out perfectly to Granit Xhaka, who lashed the ball across the box and into the far corner of the net. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Granit Xhaka reacts the fastest and Arsenal have the lead. 🤩<br><br>Jorginho&apos;s pass in the build up. 🥶 <a href="https://t.co/3nU2N18RM1">pic.twitter.com/3nU2N18RM1</a></p>— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/1636463834457337856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>After that, both sides had strong chances. Gabriel Jesus smacked the gloves of Antonio Adán after a clever run through the Sporting defense. Then, just before halftime, Sporting fired one of its many shots just wide of the post.</p>



<p>That was a theme on the night. Sporting had the mentality to shoot, even if most never required action from Aaron Ramsdale.</p>



<h5>Stunning strike brings Sporting level</h5>



<p>It only took one of those attempts on target to make the difference for Sporting. Few could have expected such an audacious attempt, though. </p>



<p>Pedro Gonçalves claimed a loose ball at the halfway line. He took it just over five yards into the Arsenal half and let fly. The camera brought in a backpedaling Aaron Ramsdale, but the ball kept floating in the air. It eventually tucked in just under the crossbar, despite Aaron Ramsdale flailing his hands at the ball.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">PEDRO GONÇALVES CAUGHT AARON RAMSDALE OFF OF HIS LINE!<br><br>ASTONISHING GOAL! 😳 <a href="https://t.co/DohIEkSiBt">pic.twitter.com/DohIEkSiBt</a></p>— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/1636479460391424001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>After that, Sporting collected more and more chances. The best of those was a breakaway from Marcus Edwards. The Tottenham Hotspur academy product had a chance to sink a club he surely has disdain for. However, the face of <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/1636481780026077184">Aaron Ramsdale denied the shot</a>.</p>



<p>The game reached extra time in search of a winner.</p>



<h2>Arsenal and Sporting go beyond the 90 in Europa League</h2>



<p>Leandro Trossard had the first major chance of the additional 30 minutes. However, Adán met the challenge. The goalkeeper came out to meet the Belgian on the breakaway, throwing out a right fist that deflected the attempt. The ball then squirmed right and clamored off the post.</p>



<p>Adán would prove to be, on multiple occasions, the difference in this game. Not only did he have more splendid saves in extra time. He had an all-important save when the 120 minutes concluded.</p>



<p>With both clubs perfect from 12 yards, Gabriel Martinelli stepped up for Arsenal. In what was a weak effort, Adán saved the waist-high shot to his left. That put Sporting on the cusp of advancing. </p>



<p>Nuno Santos put his attempt away, giving the visitors the win, 5-3 on penalties, after a 3-3 score on aggregate.</p>



<p>A silver lining for Arsenal? It can now focus solely on the Premier League title race. The Gunners’ biggest rival, Manchester City, still has eyes on the FA Cup, Champions League and Premier League.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / PA Images</em></p>


After drawing 2-2 in Portugal, Sporting and Arsenal put together another fantastic display in the Europa League round of 16.

Arsenal and Sporting go the distance in Europa League classic


<p>Arsenal and Sporting played out to an entertaining 2-2 draw in Portugal on Thursday. The result means that the winner of the second leg <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/europa-league-tv-schedule/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Europa League</a> round of 16 tie will advance to the quarterfinals. The Gunners took an early lead on the night, but had to fight back to level the scoreline in the second half.</p>



<p>The hosts nearly went ahead inside the first six minutes of the match though. Highly rated midfielder Pedro Gonçalves broke free of the Gunners defense and race towards goal. Despite cutting back inside the box to neatly get away from William Saliba, Gonçalves put the shot wide of Matt Turner’s post.</p>



<h2>Both Arsenal and Sporting have defenders score early</h2>



<p>Instead, Saliba put his team ahead just 15 minutes later. Fabio Vieira sent in lobbed corner kick straight to the center back. Saliba would convert the free header passed a diving Antonio Adan. Celebrations by the visitors were at a minimum though. After the goal, players from both teams had to be separated in front of the Sporting net because of a disagreement. Sebastian Coates was booked in the incident, meaning he will miss the second leg of the tie.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">William Saliba rises highest to give Arsenal the lead.  💥 <a href="https://t.co/g4jZTxHzGT">pic.twitter.com/g4jZTxHzGT</a></p>— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/1633893746923429889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Sporting grabbed the equalizer in the 34th minute in a similar style as Saliba’s goal. Gonçalo Inácio <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/1633896645674016768" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nodded in a header</a> from just a few yards away from a corner kick. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/arsenal-tv-schedule/">Arsenal</a> duo Jakub Kiwior and Turner could have made more of an attempt to defend the shot, but the Portugal youth international reacted quicker in the moment.</p>



<p>The visitors nearly went back in front just before the halftime break. Granit Xhaka sent a low shot towards Adan’s goal from yet another dangerous header. Adan was able to get a foot on the ball to deflect it back against the post and into his hands. Replays showed that only about half of the ball crossed the goal line, meaning that the goal couldn’t be given.</p>



<h5>Teams trade goals in second half, too</h5>



<p>While Arsenal had two exceptional chances to go back in front early in the second half, Sporting would take the edge in the 55th minute. Turner made an initial save from a shot by Gonçalves, but the rebound would fall right to Paulinho. The Sporting attacker would convert the tap-in with Saliba and Ben White flanked on either side of him.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A gift for Paulinho 🎁<br><br>Sporting take the lead over Premier League leaders Arsenal. 👀 <a href="https://t.co/lFUVDWjho7">pic.twitter.com/lFUVDWjho7</a></p>— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/1633907730426785792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>The Gunners leveled the scoreline once again just six minutes later. Xhaka looked to attempt a pass to a teammate near the edge of the box. However, the ball would ricochet off of Sporting midfielder Hidemasa Morita and into the back of the net. The <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/japan-national-team-tv-schedule/">Japan</a> international also picked up a yellow card just minutes prior to the own goal. He will now miss the return game in north London as well.</p>



<p>Neutrals will be hoping for much of the same drama at the Emirates Stadium. The two teams are set to face off in the return game on Thursday, March 16.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire</em></p>


Arsenal and Sporting finished level in their first leg of the Europa League round of 16 matchup, with both teams trailing at one point.

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Arsenal and Sporting go the distance in Europa League classic

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