Arsenal supporters will have the chance on Thursday to watch former Gunner Hector Bellerin back on the pitch once again, however, this time he will be wearing the green and white hoops of Sporting CP. Bellerin played with Arsenal from 2012 to 2022. He made 239 appearances and scored 9 goals during his time as a Gunner.
Sporting CP is managed by Ruben Amorim. The club is currently is 4th on Portugal’s Primeire Liga table with 15 wins, 2 draws and six defeats.
This is a club that has never beaten Arsenal in international competition. The Gunners series record v Sporting is 1 win, 1 draw and 0 defeats.
This is the first lego of Arsenal’s Round of 16 Europa League competition. The 2nd leg moves back to Emirates Stadium next Thursday.
This that said, here’s my predicted Arsenal starting XI on Thursday at Estadio Jose Alvalade…
[4-3-3]
Nelson, Martinelli, Smith Rowe
Jorginho, Vieira, Odegaard
Zinchenko, Gabriel. Holding, Tomiyasu
Turner
Predicted final score: Sporting CP 1 – ARSENAL 2
COYG!
Gunner1953
Mikel Arteta said on Friday Bukayo Saka, Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber are all in contention to be in the squad for Saturday’s match.
According to Graeme Bailey of TEAMtalk, Arsenal has intensified their interest in Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams as a top summer priority. 
Fabrizio Romano is reporting Calum McFarlane will be the Chelsea interim manager until the end of this season.
Arsenal Women have confirmed Manu Zinsberger will leave the club at the end of this season. The Austrian goalkeeper has totaled 51 cleans sheets in 143 appearances for the Gunners.
Stat of the Day: David Rays has made 53 saves and had 15 cleans sheets in 33 appearances this season for Arsenal.
American movie star Anne Hathaway on the Gunners title chances, “They better. I believe in Arsenal.”
Gabriel Magalhaes, “We need to be strong on Sunday, We are at this club to play these kind of games.”
Ten Premier League managers have been sacked this season, including three at Nottingham Forest, and two each at Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
Yup super excited.Hopefully we go all the way,COYG.