Arsenal draw with Sporting in first-leg thriller

Arsenal secured a hard-earned draw against Sporting Lisbon in an entertaining Europa League last-16 first leg.

But Arsenal’s lead lasted just 12 minutes, Goncalo Inacio nodding home the equaliser after hesitancy from keeper Matt Turner following a corner by English winger Marcus Edwards.

In an absorbing game in the Portuguese capital, Paulinho fired Sporting ahead only for Arsenal to equalise through an own goal by Japan midfielder Hidemasa Morita.

Both teams created numerous chances in a free-flowing encounter.

Former Tottenham player Edwards was denied by Turner when the score was 1-1 and Paulinho wasted a great chance to make it 3-1 to the hosts before a wicked deflection off Morita made it 2-2.

Arsenal had a chance to take a lead back to Emirates Stadium for the return leg next Thursday (20:00 GMT) but Vieira’s header was kept out by Antonio Adan.

Arteta faces balancing act in Arsenal’s trophy hunt

Arsenal are chasing a first Premier League title since 2003-04 but Mikel Arteta clearly sees the Europa League as something worth winning rather than a distraction to the main prize.

Despite making six changes, he fielded several key players in Portugal including Gabriel Martinelli – Arsenal’s leading scorer in the Premier League – and Bukayo Saka before Sunday’s London derby at Fulham (14:00).

It is all to play for in seven days’ time in the return leg against Sporting, but Arteta knows his side will have to improve defensively if they are to advance to the quarter-finals against opponents who started the season in the Champions League.

Poland defender Jakub Kiwior made his first Arsenal appearance since arriving in January from Serie A side Spezia for £17.6m while Turner produced a mixed performance after replacing first-choice keeper Aaron Ramsdale.

The Gunners were sloppy at times and have conceded four goals in two games but they showed character after falling behind to equalise and continue to look a serious threat going forward.

Martinelli was denied after trying to clip the ball over the keeper at the start of the second half before the Brazil forward looked certain to score after a superb solo run only to be denied by a well-timed challenge by Jeremiah St Juste.

The games are starting to come thick and fast for the Gunners and Arteta knows he faces a fine balancing act as his side chase domestic and European honours.

Player of the match

XhakaGranit Xhaka

Sporting Lisbon

1. Squad number79Player nameYoussef Chermiti

2. Squad number18Player nameFatawu

3. Squad number26Player nameDiomande

4. Squad number10Player nameEdwards

5. Squad number25Player nameGonçalo Inácio

6. Squad number3Player nameSt. Juste

7. Squad number11Player nameNuno Santos

8. Squad number1Player nameAdán

9. Squad number4Player nameCoates

10. Squad number5Player nameMorita

11. Squad number2Player nameMatheus Reis

12. Squad number20Player namePaulinho

13. Squad number47Player nameRicardo Esgaio

14. Squad number28Player namePote

15. Squad number17Player nameTrincão