Arsenal (opens in new tab) bowed out of the Europa League after dropping 5-4 on penalties to Sporting Lisbon, after an totally thrilling second leg of their final 16 tie on the Emirates Stadium completed 1-1 after additional time.
With the scores stage at 2-2 after final week’s first leg, this one appeared up for grabs – and Sporting seized the chance with each palms on a pulsating night time in North London.
Whereas it may finally be a blessing in disguise for the Premier League leaders, this was the Gunners’ earliest exit from continental competitors since 1999 – and it had all began so properly for Mikel Arteta’s aspect.
Granit Xhaka, beginning as captain with Martin Odegaard on the bench, opened the scoring 19 minutes in, capping a slick counter-attack by smashing within the rebound after Gabriel Martinelli’s preliminary effort was properly saved by Antonio Adan.
After failing to capitalise on some sloppiness from the hosts, Sporting ultimately equalised with one of the crucial unimaginable targets you may see anyplace this season.
Having acquired the ball simply inside his personal half following an Arsenal mix-up, Pedro Goncalves appeared as much as see Aaron Ramsdale off his line and fairly outrageously lobbed the back-peddling Gunners goalkeeper from the sting of the centre circle.
The objective may properly have sparked flashbacks among the many house followers to the 1995 Cup Winners’ Cup closing, the place Actual Zaragoza’s Nayim bamboozled David Seaman in related vogue to interrupt Arsenal hearts within the final minute of additional time.
Ramsdale appeared unperturbed by Goncalves’ Puskas Award contender, although, holding Arsenal in it by denying Marcus Edwards together with his face from point-blank vary simply minutes later – a save which finally took the tie to additional time.
Leandro Trossard got here closest to successful it in additional time, seeing his shot halfway by way of the primary interval brilliantly touched onto the put up by Adan after a horribly misplaced cross by Youssef Chemiti.
And Adan – who had a implausible first leg in Lisbon – was to show the hero but once more within the closing minutes, denying Gabriel by holding out the defender’s headers from a free-kick then a nook in fast succession.
With the sport heading for penalties, Sporting had been decreased to 10 males as Manuel Ugarte picked up a second yellow for a reckless problem on Bukayo Saka.
And so to spot-kicks this fascinating contest went – and Arsenal’s first house shootout in 20 years.
Taking first on the finish of the bottom the place their raucous travelling help had been located, Sporting could have sensed some form of benefit – and so it proved.
After Martinelli’s poorly struck penalty had been stored out by the persistently heroic Adan, Nuno Santos buried the decisive kick to ship the guests by way of.
For Arsenal, now out of all three cup competitions, it is all about persevering with their push for a primary Premier League title since 2004 – starting with a London derby at house to Crystal Palace (opens in new tab) on Sunday.
