Hector Bellerin will come up against Arsenal for the first time since leaving the club next month after Sporting CP were drawn against the Gunners in the Europa League
Hector Bellerin and Sporting CP will come up against Arsenal in the Europa League (Image: (Photo by Valter Gouveia/NurPhoto via Getty Images))
Hector Bellerin will make a return to the Emirates Stadium next month after Arsenal and Sporting CP were drawn against each other in the Europa League last-16 on Friday.
The draw took place following the conclusion of the knockout play-offs on Thursday evening. Sporting confirmed their place in the last-16 with a 4-0 win over Danish side FC Midtjylland after finishing third in the UEFA Champions League group.
Arsenal avoided an additional two fixtures after topping their group earlier in the season, but will mark their return to the European competition at the start of next month with a trip to Portugal.
The tie will see the Gunners face a familiar face in Bellerin. The right-back spent 11 years at the club after coming through the Hale End academy before becoming a first team regular under Arsene Wenger.
During his time in north London, the 27-year-old made 239 appearances and won three FA Cups. However, after falling out of favour under Mikel Arteta, Bellerin
Since replacing Pedro Porro at the Estádio Jose Alvalade, Bellerin has made five appearances and is expected to feature in the two-legged tie with his former employers.
And after the draw was finalised, Bellerin posted a message on his personal Instagram story alongside an image of Sporting CP’s graphic of the dates for the tie.
He posted hearts in the colours of Sporting and Arsenal as well as tearful-faced emoji and house emoji. The fixture will provide Bellerin with the chance to say his official goodbye to Arsenal supporters after making his last appearance in the Europa League semi-final defeat to Villarreal, which was played behind-closed-doors.
