Arsenal vs Sporting Lisbon predicted score, key stats, verdict and suggested bets

Europa League, round of 16, second leg, Thursday, March 16, Kick-off 8pm, live on BT Sport

Arsenal 3-1 Sporting Lisbon

Arsenal vs Sporting Lisbon BTTS, yes

Arsenal vs Sporting Lisbon over 3.5 goals

Arsenal have won all three of their home games in Europe without conceding a goal

Arsenal have won 10 of their 13 PL home games

In six of Arsenal's last eight games at home in all competitions, both teams have scored

Sporting scored in all three of their away games in the Europa League this season

EL: Sporting Lisbon 2-2 Arsenal, March 2023

EL: Arsenal 0-0 Sporting Lisbon, November 2018

EL: Sporting Lisbon 0-1 Arsenal, October 2018

Eddie Nketiah (ankle) will have to be assessed, but Gabriel Jesus returned against Fulham and is likely to feature again. Mohamed Elneny is still sidelined, while Kieran Tierney, Jorginho, Emile Smith Rowe and Matt Turner are in line to start.

Manuel Ugarte is back from a ban and will go straight back into the XI. Ex-Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin will miss out with a knee injury and Daniel Braganca is sidelined. Keeper Antonio Adan is expected to return. Hidemasa Morita and Sebastian Coates are both suspended.

Arsenal are six games unbeaten in all competitions

Arsenal won 3-0 at Fulham last time out

Sporting defeated Boavista 3-0 at home last time out

Sporting have won four games on the bounce in Primeira Liga without conceding a goal

Arteta after the win at Fulham: "I'm really happy with the performance, obviously winning 3-0 away from home, keeping the clean sheet, the chances [we created] and the goals we scored…a big compliment to the team because we deserved to win, we played really well.

Ruben Amorim after the draw with Arsenal last week: "The tie is open, it's difficult obviously. Arsenal are a team that pushes others to the front of their area, we have to be able to defend. I would be more open with a 2-1 or 3-1, as we had the opportunity to do, but we believe it is possible."

Mikel Arteta admitted his team lost its cohesion after making six changes in last week's 2-2 draw in Portugal. The Spanish boss is likely to rotate his team again though for the second leg at The Emirates as he chases glory in the Premier League.

Arsenal mounted 47 attacks to Sporting's 19 in the first leg, but it was their sloppy passing inside their own half that let down Arsenal, according to Arteta. If they can tighten up that aspect this time then they should be primed for victory.

However, at 1/3 Arteta's men are not an attractive proposition and it may well be a game to get goals on side instead.

The Gunners' home record has been very impressive this season and they are yet to concede a goal at home in Europe. But Sporting will provide their sternest test yet in the competition, as they proved in the Portuguese capital last week.

Arsenal have not come up short against the better teams in the Premier League this season. Far from it, their only defeat came against champions Man City, but they have rolled over the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United on home soil with both teams on target in both games.

In six of Arsenal's last eight games at home in all competitions, both teams have scored. And that could be the way again against Sporting, who have netted in all three of their away games in the Europa League this season.

Goals have been in plentiful supply in north London in recent weeks, with the over 3.5 goals landing in eight of their last 10 in the Premier League.

A closer look at Sporting's team news tells you that Morita and Coates are big misses and Arsenal are ruthless enough to expose the visitors. Similarly, the changes for Arsenal at the back and midfield could well give Sporting the chances they need to get on the scoresheet.