Arsenal vs Sporting Lisbon live: Team news, TV channel and UEFA Europa League updates

Welbeck has scored more goals in the Europa League than any other Arsenal player since the start of last season (five).

Welbeck forced off

Danny Welbeck was taken off on a stretcher with a serious-looking injury against Sporting Lisbon.

The England star went up for a header during the second half but was in real discomfort as medical staff rushed onto the pitch.

They administered gas and air to the striker as his teammates looked on in real concern.

We’ll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.

FULL STORY HERE

This is terrible to see as Welbeck remains down receiving treatment from the training staff. They have put his right leg in an air cast. He’s in a lot of agony as well which, at the risk of speculating, suggests this is a serious injury.

Aubameyang comes on to replace Welbeck in a like-for-like swap up top.

Welbeck looks to be in a lot of pain, rolling around in agony on the ground as the medical staff comes out to attend to him. This looks a real concern for Arsenal, and it’s a terrible blow for Welbeck who has really rounded into form for the Gunners after a couple different spells out injured. His night is surely over.

Straight at Ribeiro! Lichtsteiner finds himself in plenty of space on the right to pick out a cross, which he does expertly, guiding a delivery onto the head of Welbeck, but the striker can’t really test the goalkeeper as he heads straight at him.

Through 23 minutes, Sporting striker Montero is still yet to a complete a pass.

Nani has proved a handful on the break in this first half, and he wins a free-kick here as his pace causes Lichtsteiner problems, as the full-back is issued a yellow card.

CLEARED OFF THE LINE! Arsenal switch things up as Guendouzi attacks down the right flank this time and space is equally easy to come by. He drills a low cross in towards the near post where Welbeck meets it with a back-heel, but Mathieu gets a slight block on it before Coates manages to clear it off the line!

Arsenal are insistent on attacking down the left flank, and why not. They’re finding plenty of space out wide, with Iwobi and Lichtsteiner putting all sorts of pressure on Bruno. Everything the Gunners do is coming down that left flank.

Vital touch! Lovely link-up play between Mkhitaryan and Welbeck sees the later slipped through down the left channel. He tries to roll a delivery back across into the danger area, but Coates intervenes with a crucial defensive touch, lifting it onto the roof of the net.

Arsenal’s adventurous approach, combined with Sporting’s eagerness to push forward on the counter, has made for a very entertaining start to this match. It’s been fairly open – hopefully this tempo keeps up.

Good, direct play from Arsenal as they’re looking to attack with every opportunity. Welbeck makes strides down the left and has support, but just can’t pull it back for Mkhitaryan in the centre as Bruno smartly blocks behind for a corner.

Arsenal have won each of their last three games in major European competition – they haven’t won four such games in a row since a run of six between March – November 2005.

Sporting’s turn to be a bit careless at the back, as Ribeiro underestimates the pace of Welbeck and is nearly punished. The keeper just manages to clear the ball ahead of the striker’s arrival. Both sides are lacking some sharpness early on.

A bit of a sloppy start from Arsenal as Guendouzi gives the ball away carelessly on the edge of his own penalty area, putting his side under unnecessary pressure. Nani picks it up and tries to pick out the far corner from 20 yards, but his strike is blocked and the pressure relieved.

AND THEY’RE OFF! Sporting get the match underway in their grey away strip with neon green numbers, while Arsenal are in their classic red tops with white trim.

SUBS: Romain Salin, Jefferson, Carlos Mane, Andre Pinto, Jovane Cabral, Radosav Petrovic, Bas Dost.

SPORTING CP (4-4-2): Renan Ribeiro; Bruno Gaspar, Sebastian Coates, Jeremy Mathieu, Marcos Acuna; Nani, Miguel Luis, Nemanja Gudelj, Bruno Fernandes; Fredy Montero, Abdoulaye Diaby.

SUBS: Shkodran Mustafi, Eddie Nketiah, Lucas Torreira, Emiliano Martinez, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Sead Kolasinac.

ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Petr Cech; Carl Jenkinson, Rob Holding, Sokratis, Stephan Lichtsteiner; Matteo Guendouzi, Aaron Ramsey; Emile Smith-Rowe, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Alex Iwobi; Danny Welbeck.

Bit of mascot love

Arsenal mascot Gunnersaurus Rex and Sporting Lisbon mascot Jubas pose for a photo (Image: PA)

Arsenal’s Carl Jenkinson and Rob Holding during the warm up before the match (Image: REUTERS)

Arsenal’s Rob Holding and Aaron Ramsey during the warm up before the match (Image: REUTERS)

Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during the warm up before the match (Image: REUTERS)

Four changes have been made to the Sporting CP side from the reverse fixture in Lisbon. Bruno Gaspar and Abdoulaye Diaby, each of whom featured as substitutes in the 1-0 defeat to the Gunners, start from the off. Diaby is selected to partner Fredy Montero up top, with Bas Dost surprisingly on the bench. Jeremy Mathieu and Miguel Luis are also called into the starting line-up.

As are the visitors

Here’s how they line up tonight…

Sporting: Ribeiro, Gaspar, Coates, Mathieu, Acuna, Nani, Miguel Luis, Gudelj, Bruno Fernandes, Montero, Diaby

Sporting’s Nani during the warm up before the match (Image: Action Images via Reuters)

Danny Welbeck leads the line and Emile Smith-Rowe, who marked his senior debut with a goal in the group stage match over Vorskla Poltava, is restored in the starting XI. Carl Jenkinson makes just his second appearance of the season, and his first in the competition, as he starts at right-back, while Petr Cech replaces Bernd Leno in goal, making his first appearance in the group stage.

The Gunners are out to warm up

Arsenal’s Danny Welbeck and Carl Jenkinson during the warm up before the match (Image: REUTERS)