Arsenal will need a much-needed confidence boost after the weekend, and progression to the semi-final of the Champions League should be on the agenda, given how the Gunners are leading after the trip to Portugal.
Mikel Arteta's side were beaten by AFC Bournemouth at the weekend, and the Gunners have now seen their lead at the top of the Premier League within touching distance for Manchester City to capitalise, as by the end of next weekend, the Citizens could well steal the top spot from Arsenal. The focus for Arsenal, though, turns to midweek, as they look to hammer home their slender advantage against Sporting Lisbon. Arsenal secured a 1-0 win in Lisbon last week thanks to a late Kai Havertz strike.
The Champions League has provided some excellent form for Arsenal this season, as the home side remains the only team in this competition to have an unbeaten record, winning 100% of their home fixtures and failing to win only one of their away fixtures in Europe. Arsenal have been prolific in the attacking areas of the pitch in their home European fixtures, with 15 goals scored in five matches, and defensively, they have conceded only 0.8 goals per game at the Emirates Stadium in this competition.
Sporting Lisbon were rather unfortunate to walk away from the first leg with a defeat, given how well they applied and the heroics of David Raya in the Arsenal goal. The Portuguese outfit finished seventh in the league phase; however, 12 of their 16 points came at home, which showcases their struggles on the road in Europe. Sporting Lisbon have played five games away from home in Europe and have only won once, whilst conceding 11 goals in those five games.
Arsenal will look to this fixture as a must-win given what happened at the weekend, and while Sporting Lisbon can provide a challenge, we are expecting Arsenal to secure safe passage into the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Arsenal 1-0 Sporting Lisbon
