Mikel Arteta has warned Arsenal to “significantly improve” their set-piece defense and avoid conceding cheap goals to stay on course this season.

The Gunners enjoyed an entertaining 2-2 draw with Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League Round of 16 first leg on Thursday.
William Saliba opened the scoring with a 22nd-minute header from a Fabio Vieira corner, before Sporting scored a similar goal at the other end 12 minutes later when Goncalo Inacio was free to watch at home, the delivery of Marcus Edwards.

Paulinho put the home side ahead 10 minutes into the second half with a close range finish before Hidemasa Morita was unlucky enough to deflect Granit Xhaka’s pass into his own goal just after the start. hour of play.

The opponents have scored five dead-ball goals against Arsenal since the World Cup and Bournemouth scored with a routine just after kick-off at the Emirates Stadium last weekend. And Arteta, who has made six changes to his starting line-up ahead of Sunday’s Premier League trip to Fulham, said: “We concede too many easy goals. We’ve talked about the importance of boxing, especially in a competition where it is your entry or your exit.

“Today we didn’t defend well enough and we also have to be better to threaten the opponent. But of course you have an opponent. We’ve been playing some very emotional games lately. “We made a lot of changes today and sometimes it takes time to get that cohesion and you could feel in the first 15 minutes that it took time to adapt and click. However, if we don’t let’s not divulge, it will never happen.

“Sometimes opponents are really good at what they do. If they put the delivery in the right space, sometimes it’s just half a centimeter if you get that header out of the box or go in. It’s is true that we are each other and have to improve a lot in the next games if we want to keep winning.”

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Arsenal player ratings against Sporting cf

Mikel Arteta’s side got off to a flying start and took the lead through a William Saliba header, but goals either side from Goncalo Inacio and Paulinho gave Sporting a well-deserved lead.

However, Arsenal responded well and conceded a vital equalizer ahead of next week’s second leg when Granit Xhaka’s pass rebounded off Hidemasa Morita and crept into the corner.

Goalkeeper and Defense

Matt Turner (5/10):

He seemed nervous all night. He made some good saves but was obviously very rusty.

Ben White (6/10):

I was joined in position a couple of times as Sporting appeared to come in from their left.

Guillaume Saliba (8/10):

Rose good to open the scoring. Arsenal’s best defender that night.

Jacob Kiwior (5/10):

Really bad for the first goal. Should have walked the ball even when Turner called.

Oleksandr Zinchenko (6/10):

His movement caused Sporting problems and he made some great passes. Sometimes careless in possession.

Midfielder

Jorgenho (6/10):

His lack of pace was noticeable at times, but he moved the ball well when in possession.

Xhaka Granite (6/10):

Close to scoring when his header was stopped on the line. His pass went into his own goal.

Fabio Vieira (8/10):

Always lively. Good performance for the first goal. Always a threat.

offensive

Bukayo Saka (5/10):

Couldn’t get into the game properly but played a part in the second goal.

Gabriel Martinelli (6/10):

Never stopped working. So close to a superb individual destination. Nelson Trip (5/10):

Never really in the game. Not a repeat of his Saturday heroics.

Subs and managers

Takehiro Tomiyasu (7/10):

A delicious nutmeg was the highlight of him. Nice cameo.

Emily Smith Rowe (5/10):

Never really involved. Thomas Partey (5/10):

I couldn’t tell the difference.

Gabriel Magalhaes (6/10):

Immediately strengthened the defense.

Michele Arteta (6/10):

He has made six changes, but will still be disappointed with the performance.