Sporting stun Arsenal in Europa League shoot-out after Goncalves masterpiece

Arsenal’s Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard (2R) and teammates react after a penalty shoot-out in the UEFA Europa League round of 16, second-leg football match between Arsenal and Sporting Lisbon at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 16, 2023. – Sporting Lisbon won the match 5-3 on penalties. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)

Sporting Lisbon’s Pedro Goncalves scored an incredible equaliser and the Portuguese team went on to knock Arsenal out of the Europa League with a 5-3 penalty shootout victory in Thursday’s last 16 second leg.

Sporting trailed when Granit Xhaka gave Premier League leaders Arsenal the lead in the first half at the Emirates Stadium.

But Portugal midfielder Goncalves forced extra-time when he beat Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale with a breathtaking strike from 46 yards out.

Goncalves’s audacious goal was reminiscent of David Beckham’s long-range chip for Manchester United against Wimbledon that launched him to superstardom in 1996.

With reality television star Kim Kardashian and her Arsenal fan son Saint watching from the stands, a pulsating encounter ended level at 1-1 on the night and 3-3 on aggregate, requiring penalties to settle the tie.

It was Sporting who emerged with a shock victory as Gabriel Martinelli’s effort was saved by Antonio Adan and Nuno Santos dispatched the winning kick.

“A huge blow obviously. There were moments in the first 75 minutes where we weren’t at our level. We gave every ball away and we didn’t have the capacity to take the game,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said.

“We had big chances to finish the game. We have to look at ourselves and why we were not good enough to go through.”

Adding to Arsenal’s problems, defenders William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu limped off injured in the