Arsenal have finally learned their fate for the round of 16 in the Europa League, having been drawn against Portuguese side Sporting CP on Friday. It comes months after the Gunners managed to win their group, making sure they avoided playing an extra game in a playoff round.
That gave the Gunners some much-needed respite, making sure they didn't add to an already busy schedule by fielding strong lineups in the group. There will also be hope that now they've made it this far, they can go all the way in the competition and finally bring home a European trophy.
"This competition is getting harder and harder and I think how it looks today and what the possibilities are it looks like the next round is going to be extremely competitive," Mikel Arteta said last year on his side's progression. "That’s why finishing first in the group and avoiding another two games is such an important thing for us.”
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In Sporting, the north London side face a tough opponent who caused plenty of problems in the Champions League before dropping into the Europa League. They managed to win their opening two games of their group, one of which was against rivals Tottenham, but couldn't follow that up with another important win.
A 4-0 thrashing of Midtjylland ensured their progression to the round of 16 for the competition, where they face the Gunners with a familiar face. That being Hector Bellerin, who spent 11 years at the club, coming through the ranks in the youth academy to become a first-team star.
The 27-year-old made the switch to Barcelona last year before he then joined Sporting in January, where he has been starting games. The Spaniard is likely to get a good reception on his return to the Emirates Stadium, even if a spot in the latter stages of the competition is up for grabs.
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