Arsenal vs Sporting Lisbon Review

Arsenal vs Sporting Lisbon Review 

Arsenal 0-0 Sporting 

A dull game at the Emirates, ended with Arsenal securing qualification to the knockout stage of the 2017/18 UEFA Europa League with two games to spare following a goalless draw against Sporting Lisbon at the Emirates on Thursday evening.

The night will largely be remembered though because of a serious ankle injury sustained by Danny Welbeck which saw him stretchered from the field during the first half.

His replacement, Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang struck the crossbar early in the second half but that was as close as the Gunners came to a winner as Sporting, who had Jeremy 
Mathieu sent off late on held on for a point. 

The draw was enough to see Unai Emery's side, who extended their unbeaten run to 15 matches, through to the last 32 because of Qarabag's 1-0 win at Vorskla but they will have to wait until their next match - a trip to Vorskla on November 29 - for the chance to seal top spot in Group E.

Arsenal were dealt a huge blow when Danny Welbeck fell awkwardly after challenging Bruno Gaspar for a header. The 27-year-old,  was eventually stretchered from the field with his team-mates visibly shaken by the extent of the injury. Welbeck's bad luck with injuries seem to continue
Arsenal suffered a further injury blow when Stephan Lichtsteiner pulled up with a suspected hamstring injury and he was replaced by Ainsley Maitland-Niles with 17 minutes remaining. With Hector Bellerin now the only fit rightback, as the length of his injury isn't yet known, a newly fit Maitland-Niles will return to first team action after his broken leg he sustained against Manchester City.

The Gunners pushed for a winner but the game continued without any real chances of note, the London side came close as Mkhitaryan attempted a stab at an Alex Iwobi cross towards goal which was saved by the keeper, before Aubameyang saw an effort bravely blocked.