Arsenal team news vs Sporting Lisbon: The Gunners welcome two first-team players as they aim for 11th consecutive victory across competitions.
Arsenal extended their winning run to 10 games across all competitions last weekend, as they cruised to victory against Leicester City. Unai Emery’s are on a seven-match winning run in the Premier League and are yet to drop points since losing their first two games of the season.
In the Europa League, Arsenal have won both of their games so far, and will take on Sporting Lisbon on Thursday this week.
Unai Emery’s side is currently 4th in the Premier League table, level on points with 3rd placed Chelsea.
Mesut Ozil was influential for Arsenal in the game against Leicester City, as he scored the first goal and was key to both the goals in the second half. The former German international would be keen on continuing his good run when he faces the Portuguese side.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have provided team news for the game against Sporting Lisbon.
Arsenal team news vs Leicester:
Arsenal received a major boost ahead of their Europa League group stage game. Two first-team starters, Petr Cech and Sokratis have returned to full training and are expected to be in contention to play the game.
📈 | This is the first time Arsenal have scored at least twice in 11 successive matches since 1953.
Via @JoshJJames78 pic.twitter.com/IenciZADLu
— Arsenaloholic (@ArsenalohoIic) October 23, 2018
Ainsley Maitland-Niles has also returned to full training after suffering from a fracture to left fibula in the season opener against Manchester City in August.
Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac, meanwhile, are recovering with minor right hamstring and currently being assessed.
Latest injury news from Arsenal. Cech, Sokratis and Maitland-Niles are back in full training, Koscielny being ‘integrated’ back into full training. Kolasinac and Monreal being assessed today before the squad leaves for Portugal.
— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) October 24, 2018
Laurent Koscielny’s recovery process has been positive and the former French international is slowly being integrated to full training. Dinos Mavropanos, however, will have to wait for November to begin training with the squad.
Considering how well we are doing with the current squad, it’s amazing to think we still have the following players returning soon to full fitness:
Laurent Koscielny
Sokratis
Monreal
Kolasinac
Maitland-Niles
Mavropanos
CechI’d say that’s enough depth to win trophies.
— Ramble (@afc_ramble) October 24, 2018
What next?
Arsenal will face Sporting Lisbon on Thursday and travel to Crystal Palace where they return to Premier League on Sunday. Unai Emery’s side will aim to maintain their winning run in the league, as well as keep the pressure on top-3.
▪️ It’s the 85th minute, we need a goal
▪️ You’re called from the bench
▪️ You’re 18 years old
▪️ It’s your first senior game at the Emirates
▪️ And 15 seconds later…#OnThisDay last year: @EddieNketiah9 wasted no time in making his boyhood dream come true 🤩 pic.twitter.com/wil3LZNPRC— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) October 24, 2018
Liverpool and Manchester City are only two points ahead of Arsenal, while Emery’s side is sandwiched between Chelsea and Tottenham, with all the three clubs on 21 points.
