Arsenal's Reiss Nelson, left, challenges for the ball with Sporting's Pedro Goncalves, right, and Sporting's Jeremiah St. Juste during the Europa League round of 16, first leg, soccer match between Sporting CP and Arsenal at the Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Thursday, March 9, 2023.
Toffees struggle to savour final games before heading to new stadium
Bournemouth merited their triumph over Mikel Arteta’s underwhelming Gunners who had one eye very much on their crucial Champions League clash v PSG
ARSENAL’S second fightback of the week proved to be far more prosaic in Portugal.
If balmy sunshine on the Iberian peninsula — rather than snow in Britain — was the order of the day, there were to be no last-minute fireworks to match the intensity of last weekend's improbable comeback against Bournemouth to speak of.
In beguiling Lisbon on Thursday, an unsteady Gunners starting XI staged a heartening rally after falling behind in the second half to seal an enthralling, if not completely convincing draw in the first leg of this Europa League round of 16 tie.
In the shadow of Heathrow and glow of Thorpe Park, a band of Arsenal loyalists have built something lasting — a grassroots club with old-school values, writes LAYTH YOUSIF
A point apiece at the Emirates with both Arsenal and Palace looking distracted by forthcoming semi-finals
