Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP: How it happened

0 - 0

WHAT HAPPENED

We booked our place in the knockout stages of the Europa League with a hard-fought draw against Sporting – but the night was marred by what appears to be a serious injury to Danny Welbeck.

The England international had been handed a start in his preferred position up front but - after going close with an effort that was cleared off the line – he went down in obvious distress in the 26th minute and was stretchered off.

It was a desperately sad end to Welbeck’s evening, and the rest of the first half struggled to regain any real sense of rhythm.

But we upped the ante after the interval and almost immediately went close as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - on for Welbeck - hit the bar from close range after meeting Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s cross from the right.

Emile Smith Rowe was next to try his luck as we continued to turn the screw, before Aubameyang took aim inside the area but could only find the sidenetting.

We were camped inside the Sporting half as we looked for a breakthrough, but the visitors were proving stubborn opponents while offering a clear threat on the break.

There was late drama as Jeremy Mathieu was sent off as he took down Aubameyang who was racing in on goal, but we couldn’t find a winner.

But with Vorskla losing at home to Qarabag, it sealed our progress – although we still need one more win to secure top spot in Group E.