Arsenal have crashed out of the UEFA Europa League after losing to Sporting Lisbon on penalties on Thursday night.
UEFA Europa League
Result: Arsenal 1 (3)- (3) 1 Sporting Lisbon (Sporting won on penalties)
Date: 16 March 2023
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made big calls, as Gabriel Jesus made his first start since the injury he sustained at the World Cup and decided to reserve Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Thomas Partey.
The sides were hard to break down in the opening exchanges but the Gunners eventually started threatening and Granit Xhaka gave them the lead on 19 minutes and a 3-2 lead on aggregate with a close-range finish from a rebound after goalkeeper Antonio Adan denied Gabriel Martinelli in a one-on-one.
After losing Takehiro Tomiyasu to injury in the early stages, the hosts were also forced to withdraw William Saliba with another injury and replaced by Rob Holding at the back.
Arteta's charges remained on the front foot as Jesus had a golden chance on the half-hour mark after a through ball by Jorginho but he could not beat Adan from point-blank range.
Sporting were dangerous on counter-attacks in the tail end of the first stanza and as they remained in the game from the break, Paulinho snatched a sensational equaliser just after the hour-mark and also made it 3-3 on aggregate with a looping strike from almost the half-way line that caught goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale off his line.
The Spanish mentor reacted by making a double change, as Saka and Partey were eventually introduced in places of Reiss Nelson for better quality in the last third and Jorginho for midfield solidity, respectively.
The Portuguese outfit were a threat with their pace on transitions and Marcus Edwards had a big chance with 18 minutes left after going clear on goal but Ramsdale made up for his error with a crucial save to keep Arsenal in the game.
The game remained on the balance in the closing stages as they sides had to go to extra-time after a 1-1 draw in regulation.
Leandro Trossard should have punished Sporting eight minutes into extra-time after an error saw him go clear on goal but Adan made a crucial save into the post in a one-on-one.
Sporting were down to ten men in the tail end of extra-time after Manuel Ugarte got a second booking for a tackle on Saka, as Arsenal threatened to seal it towards the end but the visitors held on to force the game to penalty shootouts.
Sporting won 5-4 on penalties and went to the quarter-finals after Martinelli's last spot-kick was saved by Adan and Nuno dos Santos fired home the last kick for the Portuguese side.
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