Arsenal had to come from behind once again as they drew 2-2 in their Europa League round of 16 first-leg clash against Sporting CP. The Gunners were hoping to return to Emirates Stadium with a healthy advantage ahead of next week's second-leg in north London.
The Portuguese outfit enjoyed a better start to the game before William Saliba's towering header from a corner opened the scoring for Mikel Arteta's side. The Arsenal boss had opted to rotate his squad with Matt Turner, Jakob Kiwior, Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson all starting.
Martin Odegaard, Eddie Nketiah, Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard were all left out of the matchday squad with Arteta including a number of talented youngsters amongst the substitutes. Sporting took a 2-1 lead before Granit Xhaka's deflected cross was turned into the back of the Sporting net, with both teams level heading into the second-leg.
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football.london takes a look at how the national media reacted to Arsenal's 2-2 draw against Sporting CP as they now turn their attention back to the Premier League title race.
"January signing Jakub Kiwior was handed his first minutes as an Arsenal player nearly two months after he first arrived from Spezia for £21million. Those who have kept a keen eye on the Poland international's progression will know one of Kiwior's strongest traits is his passing ability and all-round technincal quality.
"Despite his significant height, Sporting's first goal would suggest Kiwior still has some work to do in the air. The debutant remained rooted to the spot when he really should have jumped to head clear the corner that Sporting equalised from. Kiwior's positioning could be questioned for the host's second as well.
"In what was a scrappy affair at times with plenty of loose balls, it was Fabio Vieira who stood out among those in an Arsenal shirt. He was often subject to boos and jeers from the Sporting crowd given his past ties to their rivals Porto, but Vieira didn't seem to let it phase him as he pulled the strings and was at the heart of all things positive for the Gunners.
"With Arsenal suffering from an attacking injury crisis and all three of Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah and Leandro Trossard ruled out, it was up to Martinelli to lead the line. The young Brazilian put in a performance far more similar to the style of Jesus and Trossard than Nketiah, with Martinelli often dropping deeper than expected to come and pick the ball up from midfield while Arsenal's wide players stayed high.
"The result leaves this tie evenly poised ahead of the return leg at the Emirates in seven days' time. With the away goals rule no longer, Sporting will be confident that they can spring a surprise in North London based on what unfolfed in Lisbon.
"From Arsenal's perspective, they will harbour confidence that with home advantage they can get the job done, though some defensive frailties were certainly exposed and that will give Arteta plenty to think about."
"As tea-time approached in Lisbon and players emerged from the tunnel, huge sections of this arena lay quiet and empty. Not many fans. Not much atmosphere, either. An hour later, it was a hive of noise and energy.
"By then, chaos had taken centre stage and somehow, at the end of a Europa League last-16 first leg that descended into frenzy, Arsenal and Sporting were on terms. Somehow, they had shared only four goals.
"Arsenal will take that. They head into next week's return leg in command without ever really being in control.
"This was low on quality and high on carnage, best encapsulated by seven second-half minutes that began with Paulinho putting Sporting ahead and ended with Hidemasa Morita putting the ball in his own net. In between? Bedlam."
"This was not Arsenal’s most exhilarating comeback of the past week, but it may prove significant nonetheless. They are in the box seat for a place in the Europa League quarter-finals, even if their performance hardly screamed of wild enthusiasm for a prolonged run. A competent display in the second leg would surely overcome a bright but limited Sporting.
"A strange, patternless and sometimes alarmingly open game produced enough chances to remain engaging but Mikel Arteta’s players may now be thankful, whatever their public pronouncements, for the chance to focus on the challenge Fulham will pose in the latest leg of their Premier League tilt.
"If they were neither bad nor especially good, Arsenal could ultimately consider themselves lucky. At their best Arsenal might have locked the game down after William Saliba put them ahead midway through the first half.
"Instead they conceded either side of the interval, could have shipped more and showed little sign of overcoming their recent leaky tendencies. Concessions from set pieces have been foremost among those and, when the debutant Jakub Kiwior appeared to ill-advisedly leave Marcus Edwards’ inswinging corner to his goalkeeper, Matt Turner, the home defender Gonçalo Inácio was gifted the chance to add another.
"His flashed header gave Sporting a platform and hammered home the impression that, if the euphoria at their domestic position is to be maintained, Arsenal will surely have to tighten up."
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