Arsenal line-ups vs Sporting CP decided as Max Dowman and Eberechi Eze agreement reached

football.london reporters select their Arsenal starting XIs for the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Sporting CP

Arsenal are looking to book their place in the Champions League semi-final when they host Sporting CP at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The Gunners come into the contest with a 1-0 advantage having lost three of their past four matches in all competitions.

Mikel Arteta will be hoping to welcome back a number of key players as captain Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori all missed Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth. Declan Rice, too, is a doubt having missed training on Tuesday.

football.london reporters Tom Canton and Ryan Taylor have had their go at selecting their Arsenal starting XIs to face Sporting.

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Tom Canton - Chief Arsenal Reporter

Attack, excite and encourage. That’s what Arsenal need to do on Wednesday evening.

The Gunners, with the backing of Mikel Arteta, need to make this fan base believe in them again with a massive win, find their form and prepare the best way possible for the weekend. Two wins this week transform the mood; in fact, it does more than that, it takes it from one end of the spectrum to the other.

Max Dowman is a player who gets fans off their seats, seeing his name in the starting line-up would be such a boost for the supporters. The same can be said for Eberechi Eze who spoke brilliantly before the game.

The back four provides a base and support to the out-of-form Martin Zubimendi. Myles Lewis-Skelly can be encouraged to move inside, while Cristhian Mosquera tucks in to make a back three.

Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Sporting CP: Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Zubimendi, Rice, Dowman Madueke, Gyokeres, Eze

Ryan Taylor

I keep banging this drum but I think Cristhian Mosquera should start over Ben White, who has had a tough couple of weeks, if Jurrien Timber isn't ready to feature. Mosquera is a solid defender and Arsenal will go through if they keep a clean sheet.

I have worries about Martin Zubimendi, who is desperately out of form, while Eberechi Eze's returning to the starting XI would provide some much-needed stardust. I would also throw in Max Dowman as I truly believe he is ready to start a game of his magnitude and Noni Madueke has underwhelmed.

Arsenal need a big night from Viktor Gyokeres but he needs service and Dowman, if Saka is not ready to play, has the ability to create and make things happen.

The rest of the team, in my mind, picks itself - hopefully Piero Hincapie will be ready to feature after returning to the bench against Bournemouth.Taylor's Arsenal XI vs Sporting: Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Havertz, Eze; Dowman, Trossard, Gyokeres.