Unai Emery’s team are drawing admiring glances from football fans across the world as they continue their winning ways, but they face a tough task
Arsenal will look to continue their impressive winning streak when they face Sporting at Estadio Jose Alvalade in the Europa League on Thursday.
The Gunners have tallied 10 wins in succession, clinching their 10th with a 3-1 victory over Leicester City in the Premier League on Monday.
Unai Emery has already steered his side to wins over Qarabag and Vorskla in Group E in Europe, but they are tied on six points with Sporting at the top.
Three points in Lisbon will see the North London outfit pull clear of their Portuguese rivals and take a step closer to the knockout stage of the tournament.
| Game | Sporting vs Arsenal |
| Date | Thursday, October 25 |
| Time | 5:55pm BST / 12:55pm ET |
In the United States (US), Sporting vs Arsenal can be watched live on television on Univision Deportes and it can be streamed live online using B/R Live.
| US TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| Univision Deportes | B/R Live |
In the United Kingdom (UK), the game can be watched live on TV on BT Sport 2 and it can be streamed online via the BT Sport app.
| UK TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| BT Sport 2 | BT Sport app |
| Position | Sporting squad |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Salin, Ribeiro, Maximiano |
| Defenders | Coates, Mathieu, A. Pinto, Jefferson, Ristovski, B. Gaspar |
| Midfielders | B. Fernandes, Petrovic, Acuna, Battaglia, Gudelj, M. Luis |
| Forwards | Montero, Mane, Nani, Diaby, Jovane |
Sporting will be without the services of star striker Bas Dost, who is joined on the sidelines by Juventus loanee Stefano Sturaro and Brazilian forward Raphinha.
However, they still boast plenty of experience, with the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Sebastian Coates and former Manchester United star Nani in their ranks.
Confirmed Sporting XI: Renan; Ristovski, Coates, Pinto, Acuna; Petrovic, Battaglia, Gudelj; Bruno Fernandes, Nani, Montero.
| Position | Arsenal squad |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Leno, Martinez, Iliev |
| Defenders | Sokratis, Lichtsteiner, Holding, Mustafi, Jenkinson, Bellerin |
| Midfielders | Elneny, Mkhitaryan, Ramsey, Ozil, Torreira, Iwobi, Guendouzi, Xhaka, Smith Rowe |
| Forwards | Lacazette, Aubameyang, Welbeck |
Emery has brought a 21-man squad with him to Portugal for the game, with Sokratis among their number after resuming full training. Nacho Monreal was not included in the panel and doesn’t make the bench, while Mesut Ozil is rested after a starring show at the weekend.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Laurent Koscielny and Dinos Mavropanos also miss out.
Confirmed Arsenal XI: Leno; Lichtsteiner, Sokratis, Holding, Xhaka; Guendouzi, Elneny; Ramsey; Mkhitaryan, Welbeck; Aubameyang.
Arsenal are considered heavy favourites to win by bet365 at 17/20, while Sporting’s chances of victory are rated 7/2. A draw is available at 14/5.
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Arsenal appear to be well and truly into their stride under the guidance of new boss Emery, reaching a point where they are now serving up what Mesut Ozil termed “sexy football” each week.
Having put together 10 wins in a row expectations are beginning to soar at the Emirates and, as they return to continental action, the significance of not letting their standards drop in the Europa League has been strongly emphasised to the Arsenal players.
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“For us at Arsenal I am telling every player, the supporters and the club for me it is very important also because it is a title and a way to go to the Champions League next year,” said Emery, who won three Europa League titles as manager of Sevilla.
“We are here to play to win, to find all the titles that are in the way and this is one with a very high, high level in every team like Sporting and in this competition every year there are a lot of teams with the same idea to find here one title and I think the level now is very, very high in this competition.”
With six points already in the bag, another victory for the Gunners would send them three points clear at the top of Group E and such an outcome would mean they will virtually have a foot in the knockout stage.