Arsenal is still top of the premier league after beating Fulham 3-0 away from home on Sunday, but will now shift their attention to their Europa League round of 16-second leg against Sporting CP after a 2-2 draw last week at the Jose Alvalade stadium.
Sporting CP also cruise with a 3-0 win this weekend with their unbeaten run still intact (W5, D2)
The Gunners will welcome the Portuguese club to the Emirates stadium, a place they have won 7 out of 9 games against the Portuguese club (D1, L1). Arsenal will be hoping to get another win today to qualify for the next round of the Europa League.
Mikel Arteta’s men have won five of their last seven European ties in which the first leg ended in a draw. Arsenal’s manager will certainly be disappointed after last week’s draw and he will not want it to repeat itself as Sporting has qualified for the next round 6 times when facing an English side in the Europa League. So the Gunners may be at full strength as the Portuguese side may fancy a win.
Arsenal is expected to have a full squad as the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard return from injury in their win against Fulham at the weekend but they will still be without just Mohammed Elneny through a knee injury and Eddie Nkethia. Arsenal has no player on suspension.
Sporting CP will be without former Arsenal man Hector Bellerin who also miss the first leg through injury and he will not be getting his reunion against his former club. Sporting captain and defender Coates will miss the second leg after picking up a yellow card in the first leg with midfielder Morita missing the match for the same reason.
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