Arsenal’s trip to sporting Lisbon in Portugal in the round of 16 first leg fixture entered in and hugely entertaining 2-2 draw on Thursday. 

The Gunners lead the Premier League table with five points at the top of the Premier League table, and after coming from two goals down to beat Bournemouth 3-2 on Saturday, Mikel Arteta’s men had the momentum to go to Portugal to try and get a win.

Arsenal started on the right foot by taking the lead in the 22nd minute of the first half through William Saliba. The defender headed home from a corner, but that lead didn’t last long as Sporting equalized twelve minutes later through Inacio with another header.

The hosts took the lead in the 55th minute of the second half after Dias Fernandes took the opportunity of a defensive error from Arsenal to poke home into an empty net.

The Gunners would later benefit from a defensive error as their equalizer came from a Morita own goal seven minutes later.

Arsenal will take the result back to Emirates Stadium, where they will face Sporting Lisbon in the second leg next week for a chance in the quarter-finals of the competition.

While it is neither here nor there for Mikel Arteta’s side, defender William Saliba stated that the team could not afford to give up.

“It is okay, we wanted to win here, but we didn’t lose, and we have to focus on the next game, and we are lucky to play at home. We will try to win again. We know they can score, but we know we can always come back and never give up. It is a good mentality from the team. It is always better to lead, but when we don’t, we have to come back.” Saliba said.

Arsenal will face a Premier League fixture against Fulham at the weekend before the return leg next week Thursday.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu