Arsenal are out of the Europa League. Martinelli fails in penalty shootout

Arsenal failed to reach the Europa League semi-final rematch, losing 1:2 on penalties to Sporting Lisbon. Only Gabriel Martinelli failed to score in the shootout, while the visitors hit all of their chosen five.

Arsenal started quite passively, while on the other side of the active visitors Francisco Trincao shot just wide from the edge of the box. On the other side, Gabriel Jesus shot, but the goalkeeper had an easy job.

In the 18th minute, the stadium was already celebrating. Gabriel Martinelli’s finish was still caught by the goalkeeper, but Granit Xhaka’s shot was short. Arsenal kicked on with a goal, but the absence of Martin Odegaard was evident in the final stages.

Lisbon’s fury came mainly from breakaways, but even they couldn’t finish them off. And when Marcus Edwards did shoot, he missed. Pablo Goncalves’ finish closed the first half, which went just wide of the far post.

After the change of sides, the visitors were active, but did not convert a good ten minutes in the middle. But in the 62nd minute, Goncalves tried his luck from the middle of the park and outmuscled a streaking Aaron Ramsdale.

Three minutes later, Paulinho could have turned the tide but his header was just wide. Sporting were the better side, Edwards spurned a chance in the 72nd minute, but Ramsdale saved it with his face.

Arsenal were more active in the end but didn’t score and it went to extra time. Leandro Trossard had a great chance, but only hit the bar.

In the first half, Rob Holding headed just over. After the change of sides, the Gunners continued to dominate but the visitors held on.

Antonio Adán also saved a Gabriel Magalhaes header, then Manuel Ugarte saw his second yellow of the game. Sporting held on to the draw and went to penalties.

Both teams’ goalscorers scored in the first three series, but Gabriel Martinelli failed in the fourth and Nuno Santos confirmed progress.

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