Arsenal vs Sporting CP Champions League QF preview: Tooth and Nail

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Arsenal look to lick their wounds following a gut punch in the Premier League when they host Sporting CP for the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinals.

Last week’s late win away at Sporting felt like the kind of result the Gunners needed to stop the bleeding from previous poor performances. The performance encapsulated the season in its own way: Key players were missing, Arsenal gritted out a result on the back of a resilient defense andan astounding performance from David Raya, while doing just enough in the attack to nick it.

And then Saturday happened.

The loss to Bournemouth at home, Arsenal’s 3rd loss in 4 matches, was profoundly damaging. Playing in front of their home supporters for the first time in weeks, they put out a performance that lacked more than goals – it was devoid of urgency, sharpness, and execution. The visitors danced around the pitch and capitalized on the Gunners tired legs and tepid tactics. Much like the performances against City in the Carabao Cup final and Southampton in the FA Cup, the opposition set the tone, routinely won the second ball, and caught Arsenal out of shape to score, looking comfortable in the process.

The season isn’t over, but the sirens are flashing and the red flags are flying at full mast. Something has to change, and fast, if the Gunners want to avoid a potentially catastrophic late season capitulation.

A lead entering the second leg gives the Gunners a cushion, but none of that will matter if they don’t find a new gear. With their backs up against the wall, does Mikel Arteta have anything up his sleeve to patch up a rapidly sinking ship and get the Gunners into a second consecutive Champions League semifinal?

Here are three talking points ahead of Wednesday’s match:

Know the Enemy

The visitors rebounded from the loss to the Gunners with a 1-0 win on the road over 13th placed Estrela in the Portuguese Primeira Liga. The result was a bit un-Sporting compared to their recent performances of late, which has seen them explode for multiple goals many times over. Featuring a mostly full strength squad, they managed only 2 shots on goal to the hosts 3, but found a way to get one over the line in the second half, which proved to be the difference maker.

For them, it was an important result. Chasing league leaders FC Porto, they closed the gap at the top to 2 with only 5 domestic matches remaining. From a momentum standpoint, it was a big response following the loss at home to the Gunners. Seeing as how Arsenal could not capitalize on last week’s victory over the weekend against Bournemouth, it’d be fair to assume that they will have a point to prove after losing despite being the better side for large stretches of last week’s match.

There’s little reason to think that Sporting will change anything about their approach to the away leg. Arsenal are incredibly vulnerable at the moment to the style of play that Sporting implement, and the visitors will likely come to the Emirates confident that they can make amends for the loss, especially if the Gunners are unable to gather themselves emotionally or tactically.

Morten Hjulmand, who missed the first leg due to yellow card accumulation, comes back into the midfield. He has been a key cog for Sporting this season, starting all 9 of their previous CL matches, and the visitors will hope his return can be the boost they need to overturn the result.

Injuries & Suspensions

The Gunners made it through Saturday’s match without any new injuries, though it’s safe to assume that many of them are carrying knocks based on the side’s overall form. The usual suspects remain out, with a handful hopefully in contention.

OUT: Mikel Merino (foot), Jurrien Timber (knock), Bukayo Saka (knock)

DOUBT: Martin Ødegaard (knee), Riccardo Calafiori (unknown)

Predicted Lineup

Attack: Trossard, Havertz, Madueke

The options are limited at the moment, and unfortunately, none of them are firing.

The left side of the attack has seen both Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli fail to stamp their names on the starting spot all season long. The question for Wednesday is whether Arteta wants to establish control or take chances early. We all know the answer is control. That’s why I assume Trossard gets the start, if only to make way for a Martinelli super-sub appearance.

At striker, I think it’s time for Kai Havertz to get his shot. Viktor Gyökeres is simply not who we hoped he would be. Unless he gets service, he quickly becomes a passenger in matches and effectively makes it a 10v11. Kai is not as clinical, but his understanding of the tactics and willingness to drop and receive the ball makes him a big asset in the attack.

On the right, Noni Madueke is the best option available at the moment. He isn’t any more consistent than his counterparts on the left, but has enough pace to be a threat for cutbacks. Last week, he forced Araujo into countless fouls, which somehow didn’t result in a booking. With Saka’s availability still in doubt and Dowman simply too inexperienced to start, he is the starter on the right.

Midfield: MLS, Rice, Eze

It’s time to get bold. Martin Zubimendi has been a shell of himself since January, and the knock-on effect has been painfully apparent. He may be available, but he simply looks spent, mentally and physically.

Declan Rice isn’t as solid at the 6 as he has been at the 8, but his defensive prowess brings much more to the table than what Zubi offers currently. As things stand, the best course may be to sit Rice deep to absorb pressure and break up play.

Myles Lewis-Skelly has had a very rough sophomore season, but he looked much improved on Saturday. I know it’s a pipedream to assume that Arteta will throw him into the midfield rotation at this stage in such a pivotal match, but at some point, the gaffer will need to gamble. The Hale End product has plenty of legs right now, which is more than can be said for most in the side, and his ball carrying ability can be exceptional when he’s confident.

Eberechi Eze’s return is huge. He was one of the few players who looked like he was attempting to progress the ball meaningfully on the weekend. He is just returning to fitness after a three week absence, and managing his minutes will be a big part of the tactics, but he is such an upgrade over Havertz in the midfield that it isn’t even a question whether or not he should start.

Defense: Hincapie, Gabriel, Saliba, Mosquera

The defense has struggled over the past few matches due largely in part to the play of the fullbacks. With Jurrien Timber out, Ben White has been called into action and has struggled. Cristhian Mosquera doesn’t offer much going forward, but with Sporting’s attacking prowess, his defensive acumen can help keep their attack at bay.

Opposite him, Piero Hincapie is a similarly no-nonsense defender that, at the very least, gives the side physicality and stability. Unless Riccardo Calafiori’s absence was enforced, he should get the start.

Gabriel and William Saliba have carried the brunt of the defensive responsibilities as their teammates around them have waned and lost their form, leading to more pressure. They can only do so much, but they are still far and away the best duo you could ask for when the stakes are high.

Keeper: Raya

There’s no explanation needed. He’s the starter from here on out.

Saturday’s loss was tough to swallow, but wholly unsurprising with the way this side has performed in recent weeks. The frustration at the Emirates emanated through the TV and into the homes of every supporter watching around the world. Rome isn’t burning, but plumes of smoke have started to rise, and it’s officially the now-or-never stage of the season.

Arteta has long since been a manager quick to turn a poor result into a postmortem rallying cry for the players and fans. After telling supporters to bring their lunch and dinner to the Emirates on Saturday, the Gunners served up the blandest fare imaginable. There is no more place for positive aphorisms; no more room for trite, rally-the-troops speeches. The manager and the squad, quite bluntly, need to shape up, leave the excuses at the door, and fight with every fiber in their beings over the next 6 weeks.

WHO: Arsenal vs Sporting CP
WHAT: Champions League Quarterfinal second leg
WHEN: Wednesday, April 15th, 3:00pm EST/12:00pm PST/8:00pm GMT
WHERE: The Emirates Stadium, London
HOW TO WATCH: Streaming on the Paramount+ app

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