Arsenal out of Europa League after penalty heartbreak

Gabriel Martinelli missed from the spot as Arsenal crashed out of the Europa League after a penalty shootout loss to Sporting.

A 2-2 attract Lisbon per week in the past left this last-16 tie finely poised and it might go all the way in which on the Emirates Stadium, Sporting advancing 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra-time.

The guests had been good from 12 yards however Martinelli’s tame effort was saved within the first ever shoot-at the Emirates.

As Kim Kardashian watched on, the truth for Arsenal is that every one their hopes of a trophy this season now relaxation on their Premier League title cost, which continues at residence to Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Granit Xhaka’s first objective since October had Arsenal forward however they did not construct on that benefit earlier than conceding a spectacular equaliser, paying homage to the objective Nayim scored in opposition to the Gunners within the 1995 Cup Winners’ Cup ultimate as Pedro Goncalves struck from over 49 yards out.

Substitute Leandro Trossard noticed a shot turned onto the woodwork within the first half of extra-time earlier than Manuel Ugarte was despatched off, proven a second yellow for a lunge on Bukayo Saka.

The stress ramped up within the shootout as the primary seven takers all transformed earlier than Martinelli failed to take action, permitting Nuno Santos to smash residence the decisive kick.

Mikel Arteta named a robust XI regardless of preventing on two fronts, with the Premier League title race little doubt his prime precedence because the Gunners sit 5 factors clear on the summit – Gabriel Jesus again within the beginning line-up for the primary time since getting back from knee surgical procedure.

He misplaced Takehiro Tomiyasu to damage with lower than 10 minutes on the clock as he limped off to get replaced by Ben White.

Jesus had his first sight of the Sporting objective with quarter-hour on the clock however couldn’t steer residence a Reiss Nelson cross.

Arsenal went forward inside 20 minutes, Jorginho with a fantastic cross to Martinelli, whose shot was saved by Antonio Adan however Xhaka made no mistake in turning residence the rebound.

Whereas issues had been going effectively in entrance of objective, Arsenal misplaced their second participant to damage throughout the opening quarter of the competition when William Saliba limped off and Rob Holding got here on within the centre of defence.

Jesus was once more prevented from marking his comeback with a objective as Adan made an excellent low cease to maintain out the Brazilian’s effort on the half hour.

Jesus was changed by Trossard at half-time however Arsenal’s sport was nonetheless not clicking prefer it has completed within the Premier League of late and the tie was quickly levelled in outstanding circumstances.

Sporting gained the ball in midfield and Goncalves noticed Ramsdale off his line, brilliantly lobbing the England goalkeeper from simply contained in the Arsenal half.

Arteta responded by bringing on the big-hitters as Saka and Thomas Partey had been launched within the rapid aftermath of the Sporting objective.

Ramsdale can have been sad to concede such a objective however made himself massive to maintain out Marcus Edwards when the previous Tottenham man burst by means of one on one because the guests started to dominate.

Neither facet might discover a winner within the 90, nonetheless, because the tie went to extra-time giving Arsenal a further half-hour of soccer Arteta would have wished to keep away from.

Trossard pressured a sensible save from Adan, who tipped the Belgian’s effort onto the submit because the hosts regarded to show the tide.

Skipper Martin Odegaard was launched, his first position a de facto cheerleader as he whipped the house followers right into a frenzy for the closing phases.

Adan was once more readily available to theatrically palm a Gabriel Magalhaes header over with the Brazil defender seeing his effort from the ensuing nook hacked off the road.

Sporting had been starting to tire and their tackles turned extra determined, Ugarte proven a second yellow card after clattering into Saka as Arsenal had been the facet pushing to win it.

The tie would in the end be determined by a penalty shootout, Jerry St Juste was first up for the guests and smashed his spot-kick previous Ramsdale, who guessed the best means.

Odegaard then stepped up for Arsenal and calmly slotted residence, Ricardo Esgaio then re-establishing the lead earlier than Saka was the following Arsenal man to tuck away from 12 yards.

Ramsdale bought a hand to Goncalo Ignacio’s effort however couldn’t maintain it out as Trossard continued the scoring run to make it 3-3.

Arthur Gomes’ penalty sneaked in as Ramsdale once more got here near saving, with Martinelli seeing his saved by Adan to place Sporting on the cusp.

Santos made no mistake as he smashed residence to ship the guests by means of 5-3 on combination, with Arsenal nonetheless with out a residence knockout win in Europe since Might 2019.