\n| Game Time:<\/td>\n | 4:00pm ET \/ 1:00pm PT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\nArsenal vs Sporting Lisbon Betting Analysis<\/h2>\nAfter a thrilling 2-2 draw over in Lisbon last week, English Premier League leaders Arsenal will host Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon in what\u2019s set to be a highly entertaining matchup over at the Emirates on Thursday.<\/p>\n Defender William Saliba gave the Gunners the lead after just 22 minutes in leg one from a well-worked Arsenal corner, but they barely held that lead for ten minutes before Sporting struck back through a Goncalo Inacio header that brought the Portuguese side back to parity.<\/p>\n Paulinho then gave the home side the lead early on in the second half through a breaking ball in the box before a really unlucky deflection from a tame Granit Xhaka shot got Arsenal back into the match and sets up a really exciting clash in leg two over in London this week.<\/p>\n Sporting\u2019s last visit to North London finished 0-0 back in the 2018-19 group stage of the Europa League.<\/p>\n All Or Nothing For Sporting<\/h3>\nSitting a full 15-points behind Benfica in the Portuguese League and getting embarrassingly dumped out of the Taca de Portugal earlier in the season by minnows Varzim, the Europa League represents Sporting CP\u2019s last chance at some major silverware this season and they\u2019ll no doubt be fully focused as a result.<\/p>\n However, with their last European trophy coming all the way back in 1964, as well as facing a huge task in trying to unseat Arsenal in their home patch of North London, it looks like the Portuguese side might have to wait a bit longer to add to that trophy cabinet.<\/p>\n Reenergized Arsenal Continue To Perform<\/h3>\nAfter what looked last month like things were finally starting to unravel for Arsenal after an incredible start to the season, the Gunners have since steadied the ship after a four-game winless run and are now deserved odds on favorites for the EPL title with just over ten games to go.<\/p>\n That come-from-behind road win against Aston Villa a few weeks ago provided the catalyst for that resurgence, just when Arsenal looked to be at their most vulnerable, but since that comeback victory against Aston Villa, the Gunners have reeled off four victories from five (the only draw over that run coming against Thursday's opponents Sporting CP), and have outscored opponents 13-4 also.<\/p>\n [coupon id=\"16752\"]<\/p>\n Arsenal vs Sporting Lisbon Expert Prediction<\/h2>\nPaulinho and Sporting Lisbon did a fantastic job of unsettling Arsenal last week in Portugal, but this is another level yet again as the Gunners have simply been superb in North London this season.<\/p>\n Manchester City are the only team so far to have come to the Emirates and registered a victory in any major competition this season, discounting Brighton\u2019s League Cup win against an experimental Arsenal lineup back in November, and the Gunners not only won all three matches in the group stage of this competition at home, but also shutout all three of those opponents as well.<\/p>\n Take Arsenal to get back to winning ways in Europe with a comprehensive win and cover against Sporting Lisbon on Thursday over in the Europa League.<\/p>\n Prediction: Arsenal -1.5 (+105)<\/strong><\/p>\nFor more free soccer picks, check out WagerTalk's free picks page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n |
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