IT’S AGONY FOR DANNY
Injury horror casts cloud as Arsenal go through SAMI MOKBEL
ARSENAL drew this Europa League clash against Sporting Lisbon — but that was the last thing on anyone’s mind.
Instead, thoughts were with Danny Welbeck, who is facing another arduous road back to fitness after suffering a sickening ankle injury in the first half.
The official line from Arsenal last night was Welbeck’s injury was being assessed. But we could see the severity of the injury. It’s looking like months, rather than weeks. Given Welbeck’s entering the final six months of his contract, you wonder if we will ever see him in an Arsenal shirt again.
They extended their unbeaten run to 15 games with this result — qualifying from Group E after four games — but that seems irrelevant in such cruel circumstances.
And while their performance against the Portuguese — who had Jeremy Mathieu sent off near the end for a bad foul on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang — failed to capture the imagination, not losing games is becoming a habit for Arsenal. It is one Unai Emery will hope his team do not drop in a hurry.
Arsenal went into the game knowing victory would assure their passage into the knockout stages, nevertheless Emery used the opportunity to field an understrength side — Henrikh Mkhitaryan the only survivor from the team that started Saturday’s draw against Liverpool. As for Sporting, the biggest change they have made since facing Arsenal in Lisbon a fortnight ago was sacking manager Jose Peseiro — interim coach Tiago Fernandes taking charge last night.
The first goalmouth action arrived in the 17th minute when Sebastian Coates cleared off the line after Jeremy Mathieu diverted Matteo Guendouzi’s low cross towards his own goal.
Then came Welbeck’s injury in the 24th minute. He required oxygen following an innocuous looking collision with Coates as he sought to make contact with Stephan Lichtsteiner’s cross. The concern on his team-mates faces — particular Guendouzi, who looked haunted — said it all.
The England international was carried off on a stretcher to a standing ovation. Aubameyang replaced him. But what wretched luck for the forward, just hours after his call-up into the England squad, as he looked to have overcome the injury nightmares that have blighted his career.
It was Welbeck who scored the winner against Sporting two weeks ago. Here, his team-mates wanted to win the game for him.
But they required a marked improvement in the second half after this largely mundane opening 45 minutes. And within 40 seconds, Arsenal improved on their lacklustre first half showing when Aubameyang struck the bar with a close range flick from Mkhitaryan’s cross.
Sporting were showing more intent, too, Abdoulay Diary seeing his acrobatic scissor kick volley blocked by Carl Jenkinson before Aubameyang went close again, rippling the side netting in the 58th minute.
Arsenal were finding clear-cut chances hard to come by. Their performance against Liverpool on Saturday was vibrant and full of gusto. This was anything but.
Emery’s attempts to cajole his players told it’s own story. He was far from satisfied.
Alex Iwobi tried his luck from distance only to watch his effort sail over the bar while Jenkinson’s audacious attempt at a 30-yard volley went horribly wrong, his effort bouncing behind him.
If Arsenal’s night in terms of injuries could not get any worse, Lichtsteiner pulled up with injury in the 72nd minute. The Switzerland defender was replaced by Ainsley Maitland-Niles. ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Cech 6; Lichtsteiner 6.5, (Maitland-Niles 73min, 6) Holding 6.5, Sokratis 6.5, Jenkinson 6.5 (Kolasinac 60, 6); Guendouzi 7, Ramsey 6.5; Smith Rowe 6.5, Mkhitaryan 6.5, Iwobi 6; Welbeck 6 (Aubameyang 29, 6). Subs not used: Martinez, Torreira, Mustafi, Nketiah. Booked: Lichtsteiner, Guendouzi. Manager: Unai Emery 6. SPORTING LISBON (4-4-2): Ribeiro 6; Gaspar 6, Coates 6, Mathieu 6.5, Acuna 6.5; Nani 6.5, Miguel Luis 6 (Petrovic 85), Guedlj 6, B Fernandes 6.5; Montero 6 (Dost 69, 6), Diaby 6 (Cabral 83). Subs not used: Salin, Jefferson, Pinto, Mane. Booked: Gaspar, Acuna, Miguel Luis. Sent off: Mathieu. Manager: Tiago Fernandes 6. Referee: Gediminas Mazeika (Lithuania) 6.