Arsenal Book Knockout Slot Despite Barren Draw With Sporting
9th November 2018
Gunners stretch their unbeaten run to 15 games but lose Welbeck, Lichtsteiner to injury in 0-0 draw at the Emirates
- Unai Emery's Gunners were the better side for long periods at the Emirates against a team who have already had three different managers this term, but had to settle for a point
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Welbeck's replacement, had the first real opening of the game but volleyed wide from just a few yards out early in the second half
- Sporting were reduced to 10 men late on when former Barcelona centre-back Jeremy Mathieu brought down Aubameyang, but the Gabon forward blasted the resulting free-kick over the bar
LONDON, England- Arsenal booked a place in the Europa League knockout stage and extended their unbeaten run to 15 matches despite a 0-0 draw with Sporting Lisbon on Thursday night.
Unai Emery's Gunners were the better side for long periods at the Emirates against a team who have already had three different managers this term, but had to settle for a point.
But Arsenal did secure a last-32 spot regardless, as Vorskla Poltava lost 1-0 at home to Azeri outfit Qarabag in the other Group E game.
A drab first half was delayed for several minutes when Danny Welbeck, given a rare start just hours after being named in Gareth Southgate's England squad, had to be stretchered off with what looked a nasty injury after seeing a header saved by Renan Ribeiro.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Welbeck's replacement, had the first real opening of the game but volleyed wide from just a few yards out early in the second half.
Arsenal continued to press for a winner but failed to find a way through the Sporting defence as Henrikh Mkhitaryan saw an effort saved at point-blank range by Ribeiro and Aubameyang was denied by a flying block.
Sporting were reduced to 10 men late on when
former Barcelona centre-back Jeremy Mathieu brought down Aubameyang, but the
Gabon forward blasted the resulting free-kick over the bar.
Injury problem
Emery's side are three points clear of Sporting in second and will win the group with victory at Vorskla Poltava on Thursday, November 29.
After winning their opening three Europa League games, Emery was able to make nine changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Liverpool on Saturday.
Only Rob Holding and Henrikh Mkhitaryan kept their places, with Mesut Ozil, Alexandre Lacazette, Granit Xhaka and Hector Bellerin left out completely.
Top scorer Aubameyang started on the bench but came on as a first-half substitute for Welbeck.
Aubameyang had one of the best chances of the match but his goal-bound shot was blocked by former Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates.
Mathieu was dismissed in the 87th minute for fouling the Gabon striker, who fired the resulting free-kick over the bar.
There was another injury problem for the Gunners in the second half as right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner pulled up with what appeared to be a hamstring problem on a mixed day for the club.