Xhaka said it’s always tough to play against Portuguese teams but added that the two goals conceded by Arsenal were too easy
By Kehinde Okeowo
Arsenal midfielder, Granit Xhaka, has called out his team’s defending after their 2-2 draw with Sporting Lisbon at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie.
A much changed Arsenal side came from behind to secure a hard-earned draw against the Portuguese side in what was an entertaining match.
Arteta’s men opened the scoring in the 22nd minute through William Saliba, but the hosts drew level 12 minutes later when Goncalo Inacio nodded home an equaliser from a corner.
Paulinho then fired the hosts ahead in the 55th minute, only to be pegged back through an own goal by Japan midfielder Hidemasa Morita.
After the match, Xhaka told BT Sport that it’s always tough to play against Portuguese teams but added that the two goals conceded by his team were too easy.
He said: “We knew before the game it is tough to play here.
“It is always tough to play against a Portuguese team, they are well disciplined, tough and have good players technically, but we have to take the 2-2 and finish the game in London.
“We started okay in the game, but the two goals we conceded were too easy at this level, that cannot happen.
“In the second half, we had a lot of control, we could have won the game but also could have lost the game so that is why we take the draw.”
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Reacting to the draw, Gunners boss, Mikel Arteta, who made six changes, insisted he will take “some positives” from the poor defensive display.
“Considering you concede two goals away from home and still escape with a draw you have to take some positives,” he said. “But we gave them too much hope by giving the ball away in our own half too many times.
“We had control for long periods but we lacked a bit of that final touch but we are missing four key attackers so we will take the draw”.