EUROPA LEAGUE

Sporting vs Arsenal | Europa League

Arsenal fight back to earn a 2-2 draw against Sporting

All square in Lisbon after highly contested Europa League match-up

Sporting  celebrate a goal against Arsenal
Sporting celebrate a goal against ArsenalEFE
Actualizado

Arsenal have settled for a 2-2 first leg draw in their Europa League round of 16 tie with Sporting , but they had to fight back to make it level.

The Gunners started off well as they opened the match with a headed goal from William Saliba in the 22nd minute.

However, 14 minutes later the Portuguese hosts opened their with a well-taken headed equaliser of their own, with Goncalo Inacio producing almost a carbon-copy of Saliba's header.

The second half saw the pattern reversed as Paulinho put Sporting in front just 10 minutes after the interval, pouncing on a rebound to send the home fans wild with delight.

Arteta: We are conceding too many simple goals

Arsenal fight back with some luck and take the draw

Arsenal drew level quickly through a stroke of luck in the form of an unfortunate ricochet which bounced off Japanese defensive midfielder Hidemasa Morita.

That made it 2-2 with around half an hour to go, but, towards the latter stages of the match, after a series of substitutions from both sides, the two teams reduced the intensity in what felt like a sense of contentment with the 2-2 draw.

The second leg will take place next Thursday, with the English side hosting that one at the Emirates.