3 Sporting CP players Arsenal must be wary of on Thursday evening

Sporting will be no pushovers</a>. While they’ve endured a pretty disappointing campaign thus far, they head into Thursday’s game with a bit of momentum.</p> <p>Ruben Amorim is a fine coach and he’s got a talented group at his disposal. While there’s an absence of world-class talent, Sporting are blessed with several stars that could hurt the Gunners over the two legs.</p> <h2>3 Sporting CP players Arsenal must be wary of on Thursday evening</h2> <p>Here are three Sporting players Arsenal must be wary of when they visit Lisbon on Thursday evening.</p> <h2>1. Gonçalo Inácio</h2> <div id="attachment_132819" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-132819" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/09/3-sporting-cp-players-arsenal-europa-league/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1023,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1458095138.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1023" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1458095138.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1458095138-768x491.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Gonçalo Inácio is developing into one of Europe’s most promising centre-back. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)</p> </div> <p>Inãcio is perhaps not a player that will hurt the Gunners as such given his position, but he’s a talent capable of thwarting the visitors.</p> <p>The 21-year-old is considered to be one of Europe’s most exciting centre-back talents after graduating from Sporting’s famed academy and slotting seamlessly into Amorim’s set-up. He’s your archetypal modern-day defender; one that excels with the ball at his feet but also boasts the defensive instincts of a seasoned veteran.</p> <p>His technique, mobility, and versatility allow him to play across Sporting’s back three, but, given his left-footed preference, he’s at his best when deployed as Amorim’s left-sided centre-back.</p> <p>Inãcio will play a key role in shunning the Gunners on Thursday, and the visitors must be wary of his passing range. He’s capable of kick-starting rapid transitions via raking driven passes and long balls in behind.</p> <p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/09/3-sporting-cp-players-arsenal-europa-league/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #2 Sporting player to keep an eye on </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2>2. Pedro Gonçalves</h2> <div id="attachment_132820" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-132820" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/09/3-sporting-cp-players-arsenal-europa-league/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2191,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1470209883.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2191" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1470209883.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1470209883-768x526.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Pedro Gonçalves leads Sporting for both goals and assists in the Primeira Liga this season. (Photo by Zed Jameson/MB Media/Getty Images)</p> </div> <p>Gonçalaves, or Pote, is Sporting’s leading goalscorer and assist-maker this season. He’s scored 12 times in the Primeira Liga and added six assists. And while his Europa League campaign began with two goals in the knockout round play-off win over Midtjylland, Pote endured a miserable Champions League group stage as he notched just one goal contribution in five games.</p> <p>Nevertheless, Pote is Sporting’s most efficient performer in the final third and the Portuguese club’s leading man. He’s developed into a bonafide star after Sporting signed him from Famalicão to replace Bruno Fernandes.</p> <p>He’s been an output machine since joining the club.</p> <p>Pote typically operates from the left half-space, but he’s a player that loves to drift in order to make things happen. He has the knack for being in the right place at the right time, with the freedom of his movement rendering him tricky to track.</p> <p>The Gunners must be cautious of his smart movement and willingness to penetrate the penalty area both with and without the ball.</p> <p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/09/3-sporting-cp-players-arsenal-europa-league/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #3 Sporting player to keep an eye on </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2>3. Marcus Edwards</h2> <div id="attachment_132821" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-132821" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/09/3-sporting-cp-players-arsenal-europa-league/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2054,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1470210446.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2054" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1470210446.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1470210446-768x493.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Marcus Edwards is Sporting’s X-factor. (Photo by Zed Jameson/MB Media/Getty Images)</p> </div> <p>The Tottenham academy product has found a welcoming home in Portugal and he’s beginning the flourish at the highest level. Edwards showed off his talent in Sporting’s two contests against Spurs last autumn, and he’s, without question, the Portuguese side’s X-factor.</p> <p>While Pote typically drifts in from the left, Edwards will roam from the opposite half-space. He’s comfortable operating out wide and beating opponents one-vs-one, but equally adept at wreaking havoc from between the lines.</p> <p>The enigmatic Edwards is a live wire. He’s mightily quick over short distances and blessed with dazzling footwork that could bewilder most defenders. The Englishman’s a crafty customer that’s for sure, and he’s starting to produce regularly in the final third. Edwards has ten league goal contributions this season, and he scored twice in Sporting’s failed Champions League group stage campaign.</p> <div class="embed "> <blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="XOK9McIoMg"><p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/09/3-sporting-cp-players-arsenal-europa-league/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/09/expect-sporting-cp-thursdays-first-leg/">What can Arsenal fans expect from Sporting CP in Thursday’s first leg?</a></p></blockquote> <p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/09/3-sporting-cp-players-arsenal-europa-league/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/09/expect-sporting-cp-thursdays-first-leg/embed/#?secret=XOK9McIoMg" data-secret="XOK9McIoMg" width="500" height="282" title="“What can Arsenal fans expect from Sporting CP in Thursday’s first leg?” — Pain in the Arsenal" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p></div> <p>Overall, he’s a very exciting player to watch. You never know what he’s going to do next. It’s this unpredictability that renders him a distinct threat.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">