Arsenal manager Unai Emery has challenged his team to beat Sporting Lisbon to qualify for the last 32 of the Europa League as group winners.
The Gunners have won all three of their Europa League matches and will guarantee top spot with two games to spare with a home win on Thursday.
Sporting are second in Group E, with six points from their three matches.
“It’s a very important match because if we win we’re first in the group – that’s our clear target,” said Emery.
“This competition is very important for us. It’s one way to win a title and get into the Champions League next year.
“We want to continue to improve and to continue with the players taking responsibility and confidence. I want to continue at the Emirates with our supporters with the same spirit as in the matches against Blackpool, Leicester and Liverpool.”
Danny Welbeck scored the only goal in Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Sporting in Portugal in October.
Another Arsenal win would take them to 12 points and mean Sporting could not overtake them, even if the Gunners lost their last two group games, as Emery’s side would have the better head-to-head record.
Sporting are third in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, but sacked manager Jose Peseiro last week after they lost 2-1 at home to second-tier side Estoril in the League Cup, with Dutchman Marcel Keizer, a former Ajax manager, set to replace him.
“They are a team with very good players, very good history, also in this competition,” added Emery.
“They’ve changed the coach but this is a very big match and a very good test as they are also fighting for first position.”
