Europa League  Sporting CP vs. Arsenal

Date: Thursday, March 9 | Time: 12:45 p.m. ET Location: Estadio Jose Alvalade -- Lisbon, Portugal TV and live stream:  Paramount+ Odds: Sporting +240; Draw +230; Arsenal +115 (via Caesars Sportsbook)

Arsenal begins their Europa League knockout stage campaign on Thursday, traveling to Lisbon against a team that could be a challenging game whose fourth-placed side in Liga Portugal could pose a threat to the Gunners. Ruben Amorim's side has already stunned one half of north London, taking four points from their two Champions Europa League group stage meetings with Tottenham, and won in style at Midtjylland to book their place in the last 16.

Mikel Arteta's side won five of their six group-stage games to secure the top spot ahead of PSV Eindhoven in their Europa League group ahead of Christmas. As Premier Europa League leaders, they will be many people's favorites to win this competition outright but will their manager be tempted to weaken his side by focusing resources on a domestic battle with Manchester City? Here's how you can watch the match and everything you need to know:

sports news While Arsenal will naturally be more focused on domestic priorities, Amorim cannot take his eye off the ball in Europa League play as Sporting faces an almighty struggle to qualify for next season's Champions League with a top-three finish in Liga. A slow start to the season means they still have a five-point gap on third-placed Braga ahead of the weekend clash with Boavista, despite winning six of their last seven.

Sporting has not scored as much in their previous four meetings with Arsenal but they will at least have insider knowledge this time in the form of Hector Bellerin, ex-Gunners, who will receive a warm welcome at the Emirates Stadium next. week

Arsenal: Gabriel Jesus' return to full training on Wednesday was a welcome one for Arteta, who will certainly not be gambling with his star forward's fitness. Arsenal has significant headaches in attack, whose late 3-2 win over Bournemouth on Saturday came at the cost of Leandro Trossard, who suffered a groin injury in a first-half chase. Eddie Nketiah's ankle injury is significant enough to require him to wear a protective boot, meaning Gabriel Martinelli could start up front for the Gunners.

Matt Turner is among the fringe players who could feature on Thursday, March 9 and Thomas Partey looks likely to be rested but Arteta is not one to rotate his side. Granit Xhaka, who was rested for Saturday's Premier League win, could be handed a starting berth while Jakub Kivio, signed from Spezia in January, is in line to make his debut.
Prophecy

It could be quite a banana skin for Arsenal, for whom it would be understandable if the focus drifted to Sunday's trip to Fulham. Pick: Sporting 2, Arsenal 1