Arsenal is continuing to stand firm in the race for the English Premier League title, but the depth in Mikel Arteta’s squad will be tested this week with UEFA Europa League action resuming for Matt Turner and the Gunners.
Turner is fighting to earn the starting nod as Arsenal visits Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon in the first leg of its Round of 16 showdown. The 28-year-old shot-stopper has remained Arsenal’s No. 2 goalkeeper, last featuring in the Gunners 1-0 FA Cup loss to Manchester City in late-January. Turner has only featured twice since representing the U.S. men’s national team at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, but had started five of the Gunners six group stage matches earlier in the competition.
Sporting Lisbon is unbeaten in five-straight matches across all competitions and will pose a stubborn test for Turner and the Gunners, especially with the first leg coming in Portugal.
Elsewhere in Europe, Gio Reyna and Borussia Dortmund face a trip to Chelsea in Champions League play. Henry Wingo and Ferencvaros travel to Bayer Leverkusen in Europa League play. Djordje Mihailovic and AZ Alkmaar take on Lazio in Conference League action.
In Scotland, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Celtic face off with Hearts in Premiership action. Ian Harkes is back for Dundee United. Malik Tillman and Matthew Hoppe square off in SPFL play.
Here is a closer look at this weekend’s Americans Abroad:
Europe
Champions League
Gio Reyna and Borussia Dortmund visit Christian Pulisic and Chelsea on Tuesday. Borussia Dortmund leads 1-0 on aggregate.
Europa League
Matt Turner and Arsenal visit Sporting Lisbon on Thursday.
Jordan Pefok and Union Berlin host Union St. Gilloise on Thursday.
Henry Wingo and Ferencvaros visit Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday.
Europa Conference League
Djordje Mihailovic and AZ Alkmaar visit Lazio on Tuesday.
England
Championship
Daryl Dike and West Bromwich Albion host Wigan Athletic on Tuesday.
Duane Holmes is OUT (Injury) for Huddersfield Town.
League Two
Jonathan Tomkinson and Stevenage visit Newport County on Tuesday
Scotland
Premiership
Cameron Carter-Vickers and Celtic host Hearts on Wednesday.
Malik Tillman and Rangers visit Matthew Hoppe and Hibernian on Wednesday.
Ian Harkes and Dundee United visit Livingston on Wednesday.