Once upon a time, a 2-2 draw away from home in the first leg of a European knockout tie would have been viewed as a fantastic result.
However, following UEFA's decision at the beginning of last season to scrap the away goals rule, it means Arsenal still have it all to do when they welcome Sporting CP to the Emirates Stadium for next week's decider as a goalless draw - or even a 1-1 draw - won't be enough to qualify for the Europa League quarter-final.
In an entertaining game - particularly for the neutral - in Lisbon, the Gunners took the lead through William Saliba's towering header but needed an own goal from Hidemasa Morita in the second half to avoid defeat after Goncalo Inacio and Paulinho had put the hosts ahead either side of half-time.
READ MORE: Granit Xhaka excited for imminent Gabriel Jesus return with Arsenal in line for triple boost
A decent result, yes, and having won all three home games in the group phase without conceding a goal, Arsenal will be favourites to overcome the Portuguese outfit next Thursday. Although, in the words of Mikel Arteta, they'll have to defend a lot better in north London.
"When you concede two poor goals like we did away from home in Europe, it’s very difficult to get a positive result," the Spaniard said in the post-match press conference. "The game had different phases because we gave too many simple balls away in our own half and gave them the capacity to [exploit] transition moments which they are good at.
"In other moments we had total control of the game and we lost a little bit of threat today, especially with the four players we are missing in our frontline. Some positives because we showed a lot of resilience to get back in the game but we need to defend our box much better and be better on Sunday."
Another factor that may concern Arteta ahead of the second leg is his own personal record in knockout ties as Arsenal manager which following Thursday's result against Sporting CP now reads: P: 11, W: 4, D: 4, L: 3.
Perhaps the most worrying sign with regard to those four victories is that three of them have come away from home against Olympiacos twice in back-to-back Europa League campaigns and the quarter-final second leg tie against Slavia Prague in the 2020/21 season.
Interestingly, despite the Gunners technically listed as the 'home' team for the round of 32 second leg meeting with Benfica in February 2021, as the game had to be played at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, Greece, because of Covid-19 restrictions it means not a single one of Arteta's knockout round victories in the competition has been achieved at the Emirates Stadium.
Whilst that record must be addressed in order for the north London outfit to progress, the fact that the one and only 'home' win in the Europa League knockout phase came against a team from Portugal can be seen as a good omen.
Having said that, football.london has taken a look at every possible outcome for Arsenal in the round of 16 second leg tie against Sporting CP and how Arteta's record could be factored in.
ARSENAL WIN
Simply put, an Arsenal win over Sporting CP will see them qualify for the quarter-final. But when taking Arteta's record into consideration, it's unlikely to be as straightforward as some supporters are hoping for and if the Spaniard fails to win another knockout tie at the Emirates Stadium then his side could be on the brink of elimination.
ARSENAL DRAW
"Ties in which the two teams score the same number of goals over the two legs are no longer decided on the number of goals scored away," a statement via UEFA.com reads. "Instead, two 15-minute periods of extra-time are played at the end of the second leg. If the teams score the same number of goals or no goals during this extra time, a penalty shoot-out determines the team that qualifies for the next stage of the competition."
A draw is the only result that can force extra-time and possibly penalties. Under Arteta, the Gunners have been held at the Emirates by Slavia Prague and Villarreal in the Europa League knockout stages, but have a perfect record in shootouts - albeit in the Carabao Cup and Community Shield.
ARSENAL LOSE
If Sporting CP become only the second team - after Olympiacos - to record a Europa League knockout round victory at the Emirates Stadium during Arteta's reign then Arsenal will be eliminated from the competition, thus leaving them to focus on the Premier League title race.
READ NEXT:
Jesus, Odegaard, Trossard, Tierney: Arsenal injury news and return dates ahead of Fulham clash
Vieira’s uphill test, Zinchenko’s kryptonite - Arsenal winners and losers from Sporting CP draw
Arsenal player ratings vs Sporting CP as Saliba and Vieira good, Kiwior mixed debut
What Mikel Arteta shouted at Ben White as Fabio Vieira Arsenal prediction close to coming true
Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from the Emirates Stadium
