Gunners To Go One Better In Lisbon?
Oct 24th, 2018 by 'holic
October in Lisbon, Sporting and Arsenal play out a goal-less draw. In the return fixture in London The Arsenal win comfortably by 3-0 in November. That’s not what the ‘holic pound is on. It is what happened when we met this week’s opponents in our triumphant European Fairs Cup run in 1969/70. A good omen? Let’s hope so.
Ahead of the 2018/19 rematch Unai Emery has been emphasising to his team how important this competition is to him. He knows that beating Sporting twice should cement top spot in Group E of the Europa League.
“In our mind we want to be first in this group. It is a very big match and very important for our confidence. For us, for Arsenal and the supporters, I am telling them this competition is very important because it’s one title and also you go into the Champions League next year.”
It is good to see that ambition being drummed into his players who would appear to be growing in confidence with every passing match. The manager also ruled out the possibility of reverting to a back three for this potentially tricky trip. The travelling party is once again without a recognised left-back as Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac failed late hamstring tests.
Assuming there will be some rotation further forward it is likely however that the back five will remain unchanged despite the return from injuries of Sokratis Papastathopoulos and, wait for it, Carl Jenkinson. The dream lives on for the childhood Gooner. In front of them Mohamed Elneny and Matteo Guendouzi could step up to allow Granit Xhaka and Lucas Torreira a breather on the bench.
Recalls for Aaron Ramsey and Emile-Smith Rowe are possible to make up the trio alongside Alex Iwobi behind possibly Danny Welbeck, or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang up top? That would leave a potential bench, if needed, including Martinez, Sokratis, Xhaka, Torreira, Mikhitaryan, Ozil, and Lacazette.
Sporting, like us, have six points but are two goals worse off in goal difference. However they needed two late strikes to overcome Vorskla Poltava last time out. They currently occupy fifth place in the Portuguese Primeira with 13 points from 7 matches having wholesale changes to the squad.
The ‘holic pound
I read we have never won a competitive match in Portugal but there is a first time for everything. Even with a rotated squad I like the look of 1-2 to The Arsenal at 8/1.
Don’t forget we are the early game kicking off at 17.55 UK time. You don’t want to miss it and end up watching the bus stop in Fulham!
If you have a while to fill later you can listen to me wittering on in this weeks ABW podcast, see below.
Have a good one, ‘holics.
43 Responses to “Gunners To Go One Better In Lisbon?”
Evening H
Sporting as you report,are having a miserable time of it this season.
Having said that,they do have a very passionate home support,so the atmosphere will be quite intimidating.
What better way to shut them up than a couple of early goals,although given our slow starts this season,that probably means early in the 2nd half. !!
Emery clearly has designs on winning this Trophy,so expect a quality line up from us,with firepower on the bench as well.
I expect a win,but wouldn’t be surprised by a draw.
As for Trev @ 79 in previous drinks,the chap is far too clever for his own socks,let alone anyone else’s. !!
Our second 3-1 win this week.
AMN to return at left-back
TTG
Knock out stages of Europa league could be very interesting this season.
Given one of Pool/PSG/Napoli have to miss out in their CL group,the Spuds will need more than a miracle to qualify from their group,and Man Utd are also in a precarious position in theirs.
It is entirely possible we could have an unprecedented 4 English clubs in the last 32 in Feb next year.
He wasn’t on the plane, TTG. The list is on arsenal.com ??
It’s possible PSV will pip the Nomads for third place, Clive. ?
You are as mordantly witty as that Trev H.
But given both Chelsea and the neighbors are our main obstacle to top 4,it helps us immensely if all 3 of us are playing Thursday/Sunday.
Cheers Holic !
It’s great to be excited about watching us play again – even if that defence is still scary – and to have a sense of optimism and unity amongst the supporters. Blimey, even Cynic is walking around the place singing “We’ve got Özil !”
Clive,
don’t you worry about my socks – they’re quite clever enough to stand up for themselves. Well, you know …… ?
Steady on Trev, he may have done it oin a balmy night against Leicester, but if he can do it on a cold night against Liverpool, I may whistle that tune. Never sing though. Couldn’t hold a note in a bucket. With both hands.
*cue mystery attack of cholera Chez Ozil*
Fine preview Guvna. As you say, it’s time to put an end to that record. 3-1 to the good guys please. In case there’s any doubt, they’re the ones who are not playing in green and white (that never ever happens, CBA) but they’re probably not playing in red and white either.
If I were a Sporting supporter I would not like the sound of “Arsenal have never won a competitive match in Portugal.” Sounds too ominous. COYG.
Wonderful interview with Pep Guardiola on the BBC website today makes me respect him even more than I already did which was quite a lot.
Draw or a late winner, we just may see a little fatigue or a drop in form this game, maybe I am hoping this is that game than palace, hence saying so.
Interesting to see the left back selection, of course if fit, kola takes it, if not who? Please dont say Xhaka.
An unprecedented 4 English teams in europa, bring it on, I am anyways hoping its an Arsenal united final and the final nail in the coffin and three fingers to that so and so.
Sounds like a good prediction
to me Guvnor.
Normally I’d happily take a
draw away in Europe against
our main group rivals but it’d
be good to keep the winning
run going just now.
Hopefully we can get a left back
fit for the Palace game and
they’re being left behind as a
precaution.
Blue collar tinge to the clubs at the top of the table in the Championship after last night’s results: Leeds, Boro and Sheffield United. I’d take them and sacrifice Brighton, Bournemouth and Fulham if the UK stays in the EC. Bargain?
bt8: promoting Boro…with Pulis? Please…let’s keep Craven Cottage up.
Nice stuff H. On current form, as long as we can get through the first half unscathed then we should be fine.
I’ve just seen the list of the 21 we’ve taken with us. The list includes The Jenk???? I had no idea he was still on the books.
Here’s to another win on the road.
Brighton, Bournemouth and Fulham. Bayonne I would rather keep them too if I’m honest. Post-industrial drab doesn’t do much for me and I have been to Sheffield and Leeds and don’t care to return. Sorry for the impertinence of my late night rambling.
Xhaka at LB tonight – interesting!
Lichsteiner on the right side and the Corporal on the bench. Looks ok unless Sporting are much better than I think the6 are
Na-Ni
Na-Ni
red card for
Na-ni
!
But do Sporting know he is not a left back? Best to keep it quiet.
Merson – “They’ve done well to win 10 games on the trot, don’t get me
wrong…But when they come up against Tottenham and Liverpool, and
especially Liverpool at the Emirates, I would be shocked if Liverpool
didn’t win by three clear goals. They will rip Arsenal to shreds.”
Toothless
Lichsteiner is very experienced but we could be troubled on the left where Xhaka does go missing and he also lacks pace. Otherwise the team one expected. Strong bench.
if we tear em a new one so will their ‘ooligans
hard living
gentle approach will do the trick
petting like
No spark so far. Everything is happening in slow motion.
Lisbon has so many tall players, including one who is 6’6″. They can be a real threat on set pieces.
Sokratis should have been sent off there….very lucky
Miki is not playing well either….
As of halftime Xhaka is still not a left back although he tried, to his credit. We must have some young player we could try in that position.
Hope we score in the second half and keep a clean slate. Nothing to write home about the somnolent first 45 minutes.
Holding has made a few mistakes and lucky to get away.
Thank you to the Spanish speaking population of the United States. It is thanks to you that today’s Arsenal game is being shown at all on my telly machine. Un saludo a todos de ustedes.
Great corner that. All the way across the pitch, yards from anyone, for a throw in.
Either that corner was atrocious or The laws of gravity were momentarily suspended.
I must say, it’s not a match overflowing with quality.
We are really suffering from the lack of an overlapping left back. Xhaka just standing wide with no dynamism. It’s better down the right.
Time for our subs to get in. Could do with some increase in the tempo.
Get in Danny!
They are falling down one by one and wasting time.
Welbeck!!!! They committed a mistake and Welbeck pounced.
GoaL!
Laca on for Danny. Could do with another goal.
Lucky you, bt8. Only Spanish station coverage is on AC Milan Betis.
eleven
An important win and top spot in the group is almost there. Eleventh straight win.
Somewhat poetic that a game so bereft of quality was won as the result of a mistake.
11 out of 11. Can’t be too bad then.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>