Arsenal vs Sporting LIVE: Gunners aim to reach Europa League quarter-finals

The Gunners drew 2-2 with Sporting in a thrilling first leg last week and will be confident of progressing as they return to European action at the Emirates.

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At times in Portugal, the hosts looked the better team, however, Hidemasa Morita's own goal brought Arsenal level and they came away the happiest with the result.

Mikel Arteta's side are now favourites to move on and will be even more encouraged by the fact that their opponents have not won a game in England since 2005.

Arsenal vs Sporting: How to follow

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This Europa League round of 16 second leg will take place on Thursday, March 16.

Kick-off at the Emirates is scheduled for 8pm.

The game will be broadcast live on BT Sport 2 with coverage beginning at 7:15pm.

talkSPORT will have updates of all the action throughout the evening while talkSPORT.com will be running a live blog too.

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To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

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Arsenal vs Sporting: Team news

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Gabriel Jesus will most likely be in the Arsenal squad for the clash after making his long-awaited return to action at the weekend.

However, Arteta has said his minutes are still being managed and was keen to let fans know not to get too carried away.

Eddie Nketiah is expected to remain on the sidelines as he continues to recover from his ankle injury.

As for Sporting, former Gunner Hector Bellerin will miss out again through injury.

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Morita and Sebastian Coates were both booked in the first leg and will be suspended for the Emirates meeting.

Arsenal vs Sporting: What has been said?

Arsenal boss Arteta knows his side will have to perform better in the second leg if they want to progress.

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He said: "We are looking to win, the same that we did in Lisbon.

"But we're going to have to do better than what we did in Lisbon to win against Sporting tomorrow."

He also commented on Jesus' fitness and possible game time.

"It was great to see him back and you can feel the happiness of everybody around him - supporters, players and staff," Arteta said.

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"Finally to have him, we missed him, and now he's back. We have to manage his minutes, we have to manage his involvement in the squad, the team, but he's feeling good.

"And every day that he's in training he is saying that the sensations are getting better and better, so that's really positive."

Arsenal vs Sporting: Match facts

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Arsenal's Bukayo Saka completed eight dribbles in the first leg against Sporting, the most by a player aged 21 or younger in a UEFA Europa League game since Calvin Stengs completed 10 for AZ against LASK in February 2020, and most by an English player at such an age since Callum Hudson-Odoi for Chelsea vs Malmö FF in February 2019 (9).

When failing to win a home first leg of a two-legged knockout tie in major European competition, Sporting have been eliminated in 21 of their previous 22 such ties, although the exception was most recently, beating FC Midtjylland in this season's UEFA Europa League play-off round after a 4-0 second leg away win.

Arsenal are without a win in their last three UEFA Europa League knockout stage games at home (D2 L1), with their last such win coming against Portuguese opposition, beating Benfica 3-2 in February 2021.

Sporting are winless in their last nine away games against English sides in major European competition (D4 L5) since beating Middlesbrough 3-2 in the 2004-05 UEFA Cup last 16.

Arsenal have lost just one of their nine home games against Portuguese clubs in all European competition (W7 D1), a 1-3 defeat to Benfica which saw them eliminated from the 1991-92 European Cup last 16.