Arsenal dominated possession in the first half but struggled to create any clear cut chances on goal. Danny Welbeck was taken off on a stretcher and needed to be given oxygen on pitch for serious ankle injury, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang came off the bench but prolific forward also struggled to break down defence but Sporting finished game without registering a shot on target but proved a tough nut to crack at the Emirates.
Danny Welbeck suffered a suspected broken ankle in Arsenal's Europa League draw against Sporting Lisbon, leaving his team-mates looking shocked as they came to terms with the injury.
Arsenal drew this Europa League clash against Sporting Lisbon - but that was the last thing on anyone’s mind.
Instead, thoughts were firmly with Danny Welbeck, who is facing another arduous road back to fitness after suffering a sickening ankle injury in the first half.
It was one of those injuries you wish you never saw. One that you cannot erase from memory no matter how hard you try. Welbeck was taken straight to hospital, but you didn’t need to be medically trained to realise the severity of his injury. We’re looking at months, rather than weeks.
Welbeck was quickly attended to by Arsenal medics and treated on the pitch, with an oxygen mask administered and a leg brace in place, before being sent to hospital to get the injury examined. Unai Emery later confirmed he had broken his ankle.
The striker had landed awkwardly while trying to attack a header in the first half.
Danny Welbeck looks on as he is carried off on a stretcher at the Emirates Stadium
Nani attends to his former Manchester United team-mate as medics call for further assistance
Welbeck's ankle was caught underneath his leg after he had attacked a cross with a header
Team-mates looked on in shock at the extent of the injury, with Matteo Guendouzi visibly distressed by holding both hands to his face as Welbeck was treated.
Manager Unai Emery expressed how upset he was by the injury to the England striker.
'This is the worst news tonight,' Emery said. 'We think it's serious. He was working well, doing a good match. He had chances.
'His injury also affect the mentality of the players. When you are playing football, playing competitive matches, it can happen. We don't want that. This is our profession.'
And the Spaniard suspected Welbeck had broken a bone, adding: 'Every injury is different. He has broken something in his ankle. It is a different injury than another.'
Speaking after the 0-0 draw, goalkeeper Petr Cech was quick to insist that all the squad were thinking about was Welbeck.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Nani show their support to Welbeck and shake his hands as he departs
'Danny [Welbeck]'s looked like a serious injury which is not nice to see and our thoughts are with him and also Stephan [Lichtsteiner],' Cech told BT Sport.
Alex Iwobi added: 'It is very mentally challenging but sometimes it comes with the game.
'There's been a lot of injuries and unfortunately for Danny he has had a few so we are going wish him the best and we’ll keep encouraging and motivating him to get back.'
Ex-Arsenal defender Martin Keown commented: 'I think he has tried to plant his foot and it's got stuck behind him, all the way through and you can see it is written on Guendouzi’s face the extent of the injury.
'He’s a great professional and he is good for the group as he is a little older and he is a loss to them and it looks like he will be out for a while.'
As the seriousness of the injury quickly became apparent, the Emirates Stadium fell eerily quiet as medical teams took due care in attending to Welbeck.
Welbeck lands on his right ankle in an awkward fashion after attacking a cross in the box
The Arsenal striker had tried to make contact with a header in a battle with a Sporting defender
Welbeck fell into another defender shortly after his painful impact with the turf
Clutching his right leg, the Arsenal hitman rolled around in pain following the injury
Arsenal medics quickly came onto the pitch to attend to the pain stricken striker
Matteo Guendouzi looks on with concern as Welbeck is treated for his ankle injury
The striker was down for five minutes in the Sporting Lisbon box before he was carefully placed onto a stretcher and carried off to chants of his name from the club's supporters, who also applauded him off.
Former Manchester United team-mate Nani went out of his way to console Welbeck as he lay on the turf and while he was removed from the field of play.
Welbeck managed to exchange handshakes of support with team-mates as he departed but there are now fears the nature of the injury could rule him out long term.
The incident occurred in the 25th minute as Welbeck ghosted in from the back post to attack a central cross from Stephan Lichtsteiner on the right.
Concerned Arsenal fans look on as Welbeck is carried off down the tunnel on a stretcher
Arsenal supporters applauded and chanted Welbeck's name as he departed the field of play
Although he made contact with his header, the battle with a Sporting defender saw him land awkwardly on the ankle leaving him rolling around in agony.
Almost immediately the Sporting keeper Renan Ribeiro spotted the nature of the injury, pointing towards the striker to bring the game to a halt.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang replaced Welbeck in the Europa League tie.
Given Welbeck’s entering the final six months of his contract, and the gruesome photos of his ankle twisted in the wrong direction - you wonder if we’ll ever see him in an Arsenal shirt again.
But that’s a debate for an altogether different day. Right now, you simply hope Welbeck makes a full recovery.
Unai Emery confirmed: ‘This is the worst news, it’s clear we are all with him. He’s in hospital, we think it is serious ankle injury.
‘When a player has an injury like that, your mind thinks of the player but we had to concentrate on the game and try to forget.
‘But after the final whistle we asked about him straight away.’
Arsenal extending their unbeaten run to 15 games - and qualifying for the Europa League knockout stages - seems irrelevant given the circumstances.
But while their performance against the Portuguese failed to capture the imagination, not losing games is becoming a habit for Arsenal.
It’s a habit Emery will hope his team don’t drop in a hurry.
Emery fielded a largely understrength side - Henrikh Mkhitaryan the only survivor from the team that started Saturday’s draw against Liverpool.
As for Sporting, the biggest change they’ve made since the first game in Lisbon a fortnight ago is sacking manager Jose Peseiro last week - interim coach Tiago Fernandes taking the reins for Wednesday night's clash.
The concern on his team-mates faces - particular Guendouzi, who looked haunted - said it all.
The England international was eventually stretched off to a standing ovation after receiving five minutes of treatment, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang replacing him.
But what wretched luck, just hours after his England call-up, for the forward who looked to have finally overcome the injury nightmares.
Welbeck’s horrific injury stunted whatever momentum - and there wasn’t much - the game had built up.
Indeed, half-time couldn't come soon enough - especially for Arsenal players who were eager to be updated about their stricken team-mate.
It was Welbeck who scored the winner against Sporting two weeks ago. Here, his team-mates wanted to win the game for him.
The concern on his team-mates faces - particular Guendouzi, who looked haunted - said it all.
The England international was eventually stretched off to a standing ovation after receiving five minutes of treatment, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang replacing him.
But what wretched luck, just hours after his England call-up, for the forward who looked to have finally overcome the injury nightmares.
Welbeck’s horrific injury stunted whatever momentum - and there wasn’t much - the game had built up.
Indeed, half-time couldn't come soon enough - especially for Arsenal players who were eager to be updated about their stricken team-mate.
It was Welbeck who scored the winner against Sporting two weeks ago. Here, his team-mates wanted to win the game for him.
The defender had played brilliantly but had to go after deliberately taking out the Arsenal striker, who missed the free-kick
But they required a marked improvement in the second half after this largely mundane opening 45 minutes.
And within 40 seconds, the Gunners improved on their lacklustre first half showing when Aubameyang struck the cross bar with a close range flick from Mkhitaryan’s cross.
But like the game in the Portuguese capital, Arsenal were finding clear cut chances hard to come by.
And is if Arsenal’s night in terms of injuries couldn’t get any worse, Lichtsteiner pulled up with a suspected right hamstring injury in the 72nd minute.
The Switzerland defender was eventually replaced by Ainsley Maitland-Niles as the game headed towards a goalless draw.
Sporting were reduced to 10 men in the closing stages when Mathieu was sent off for fouling Aubameyang with the striker about to bear down on goal as the game ended goalless.
In the end a forgettable game, but one we’ll remember for the most horrific reasons.
The Gabon star was met with fierce resistance as Sporting put on a disciplined performance at the back in London
Arsenal manager Unai Emery was active in his technical area as he instructed his side with his customary verve
MATCH FACTS AND GROUP TABLE
Arsenal (4-2-3-1):
Cech 6; Lichtsteiner 6.5 (Maitland-Niles, 74), Holding 6.5, Sokratis 6.5, Jenkinson 6.5 (Kolasinac 60); Guendouzi 7, Ramsey 6.5; Smith Rowe 6.5, Mkhitaryan 6.5, Iwobi 6; Welbeck 6 (Aubameyang 30, 6)
Unused subs: Martinez, Torreira, Maitland-Niles, Nketiah
Booked: Lichtsteiner
Emery: 6
Sporting (4-4-2):
Ribeiro 6; Gaspar 6, Coates 6, Mathieu 6.5, Acuna 6.5; Nani 6.5, Miguel Luis 6, Guedlj 6, Bruno Fernandes 6.5; Montero 6 (Bas Dost 69), Diaby 6 (Cabral 23)
Unused subs: Salin, Jefferson, Pinto, Mane, Petrovic.
Bookings: Gaspar, Luis, Acuna
Fernandes: 6
Referee: Gediminas Mazeika (LTU) - 6
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