Sporting Lisbon Win First Ever Penalty Shootout At Emirates Stadium To Knock Arsenal Out Of Europa League

Sporting Lisbon knocked Arsenal out of the UEFA Europa League after winning the first ever penalty shootout at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal 1-1 Sporting (3-3 on agg, 3-5 on pens)

Sporting Lisbon knocked Arsenal out of the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night after winning a penalty shootout in London.

It came after the second leg of their round of 16 clash had finished 1-1, seven days after a 2-2 draw in Portugal.

The Emirates Stadium had never previously witnessed a penalty shootout in its 17 years as Arsenal's home.

Sporting Lisbon players pictured celebrating after beating Arsenal in a penalty shootout to advance to the quarter-finals of the 2022/23 Europa League :: IMAGO/Focus Images/Nigel Bramley

It looked like it was going to be a comfortable night for the Gunners midway through the first half when Granit Xhaka hammered home a rebound to give his side the lead, after Gabriel Martinelli had been denied by the Sporting keeper.

But Sporting drew level in the 62nd minute courtesy of a spectacular strike by Pedro Goncalves from near the halfway line.

Arsenal pushed hard in search of a winner but were thwarted multiple times by Antonio Adan, who made seven saves before the penalty shootout.

Adan then crucially kept out a penalty from Martinelli as Sporting won the shootout 5-3.

Antonio Adán made 7 saves tonight against Arsenal, the most he's made in any Europa League game. pic.twitter.com/E52YtIWoRR

— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) March 16, 2023

Kim Kardashian was among the crowd at the Emirates Stadium and she appeared to be gripped by the penalty drama.

The reality TV star was seen filming a video of Bukayo Saka's successful spot kick on her phone.

Martin Odegaard and Leandro Trossard also converted their penalties for Arsenal.

But Sporting found the net with all five of their kicks, although Aaron Ramsdale came very close to saving from Goncalo Inacio.