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Arsenal have been told that Sporting CP might see their Europa League last-16 draw as an impossible task as the former Portuguese champions face their toughest possible draw.
Arsenal were drawn against Sporting CP in the last-16 of the Europa League, avoiding the likes of Juventus and Sevilla. The Gunners will play the 19-times Portuguese champions in March during a 23-day period of seven matches.
Sporting CP knocked out Danish side Midtjylland in the knockout play-off round only to draw potential tournament favourites Arsenal. It was not the opponent they would have hoped to play at this stage having already been relegated from a Champions League group that included the Gunners’ north London rivals Tottenham.
To get a grasp on how Sporting might be feeling after the draw football.london spoke to Lisbon-based Portuguese football expert and Sporting supporter Jose Miguel. Jose provided insight on a number of topics including the return of Hector Bellerin, the threats Arsenal will face like Marcus Edwards and Pedro Goncalves plus where the tactical weaknesses of the Gunners’ opponents can be found.
This is arguably the worst draw Sporting CP could have got, what was your reaction to the draw?
“Definitely, yes. I mean it’s the team which is doing the best this season in the Premier League. Probably the best team playing so far in the top five leagues, I believe.
“I’ve been watching Arsenal this season closely, I try to watch every game, I do my best, and I’ve been thoroughly impressed. They’ve taken the best from players who perhaps were a bit forgotten or underperforming like [Martin] Odegaard and Granit Xhaka, I mean he’s not my favourite player at all but he’s been doing fine things this season.
“I’ve been loving [Thomas] Partey so far, and now with Jorginho, it’s even stronger. [Eddie] Nketiah seemed like he wouldn’t be an option at all at the start of the season and now he’s a great forward.
So Sporting couldn’t have hoped for any worse. I think Sporting have assets that can make a difference against a team like Arsenal but it’s going to be very hard; I mean it’s an impossible task to defeat Arsenal at this moment.
“Above all else, it’s going to be a great game, I think. Two teams that play very positive football, forward-looking but Arsenal have some strengths Sporting can’t even dream to eliminate.”
Two seasons ago Sporting won the league, last season they finished second and now their fourth. What’s happened in these two years?
“So Sporting won the Portuguese title in the first season when Ruben Amorim took over and kind of unexpectedly. No one knew how Sporting would be playing tactically speaking.
“Amorim took players from the youth team, from the Portuguese league that weren’t so famous. He signed Pedro Goncalves from Famalicao who placed sixth that season and Nuno Santos from Rio Ave who placed fifth.
“These were average players, no one seemed to care too much about them, but they made a difference. Even though the players weren’t stars, they made a team.
“He was able to make a team where all the players were working together and taking the best out of them. But I think the surprise effect was what made a difference in that season and it has been fading so far.
“Sporting has not invested, what I believe it should be investing. This particular season it’s been hard, [Joao] Palhinha was sold in the summer [to Fulham], and everyone knew he was going to leave, but in the last days of the window Matheus Nunes was signed by Wolves and no one was expecting that.
“There was even some controversy in Portugal because Ruben Amorim was saying Nunes was going to stay and the next day he was sold. Losing Palhinha and Nunez, the midfield was completely wrecked and I mean Amorim has been trying to make amends with the players he has, which are not at the same level as those who were sold.
“I mean placing fourth this season is fair because Sporting haven’t been playing great. But there are moments when Sporting leave the impression that they’re returning to the old Sporting but it’s occasional, it’s not consistent.”
Football.London
