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Asked yesterday whether either Bukayo Saka aliases Jurrien Timber mightiness play tonight, Mikel Arteta said: “Maybe 1 of them, let’s see.” Well we person seen, and nan reply is neither of them, and besides nary Martin Odegaard aliases Riccardo Calafiori. But Declan Rice, who missed training yesterday, is in.
The teams!
Team sheets person been handed in, and tonight’s lineups are arsenic follows:
Arsenal: Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Eze, Martinelli; Gyokeres. Subs: Arrizabalaga, Setford, White, Jesus, Norgaard, Trossard, Havertz, Dudziak, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman, Salmon.
Sporting: Rui Silva; Eduardo Quaresma, Diomande, Goncalo Inacio, Araujo; Hjulmand, Morita; Catamo, Francisco Trincao, Pedro Goncalves; Suarez. Subs: Joao Virginia, Debast, Geovany Quenda, Vagiannidis, Kochorashvili, Faye, Daniel Braganca, Joao Simoes, Flavio Goncalves, Salvador Blopa, Rafael Nel, Ricardo Mangas.
Referee: François Letexier (France).
Preamble
Hello world! This is Arsenal’s 12th Champions League crippled of nan season, and they’ve won 10 and drawn 1 of nan erstwhile 11. Europe is their happy place, and this nan only title successful which they’ve played and not mislaid complete nan past month, successful which clip they’ve been dumped retired of nan FA Cup by Southampton, mislaid a League Cup last to Manchester City, been turned complete astatine location by Bournemouth and mostly allowed nan wheels to travel very overmuch and emphatically off. Tonight, nursing a 1-0 lead from nan first leg, they tin and so request to springiness themselves a much-needed morale boost up of Sunday’s Premier League enormoclash astatine nan Etihad.
A fewer happy omens for Arsenal:
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The grounds of English clubs successful two-legged Champions League ties against Portuguese opponents is jolly bully – 10 wins connected nan rotation since Benfica upset Liverpool successful 2005-06.
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The grounds of English clubs successful Champions League aliases European Cup quarter-finals against Portuguese opponents is moreover better: played nine, won nine.
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Sporting haven’t won a competitory lucifer successful England successful 10 attempts since they hit Middlesbrough 3-2 successful nan 2004-05 Uefa Cup.
Less happy for Arsenal:
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Thinking astir shot these days.
Here’s Ed Aarons’ lucifer preview:
There was a melodramatic region erstwhile Mikel Arteta was asked what he wants from nan Arsenal supporters against Sporting connected Wednesday evening successful nan 2nd limb of their Champions League quarter-final.
After his attempts to rouse them earlier nan early kick-off against Bournemouth astatine nan play by telling them to “bring your lunch” backfired spectacularly pinch a costly location conclusion that ended pinch immoderate fans booing nan Premier League leaders disconnected nan pitch, this clip nan connection was much considered.
“No fear. Pure fire,” said nan Arsenal manager. “That’s what I want to spot from nan players, from nan people, from myself. That’s it. Go for it because nan opportunity is unbelievable. We are successful April, we person an unthinkable opportunity up of us. Let’s spell for it.”
