Arsenal extend winning streak to 11 with win over Sporting CP

Courtesy of Danny Welbeck's cool finish in the final quarter-hour of Thursday's Europa League clash at Sporting CP, Arsenal have secured an 11th consecutive victory, the club's longest streak since 2007.

The Gunners now have one foot in the knockout stage, as the victory puts Unai Emery's lot on nine points through three Group E matches, three up on the second-placed Lisbon side. It's the first time an Arsenal side has won away against a Portuguese team in seven tries, ending a stretch of three defeats and three draws.

Welbeck's goal was his fifth of the campaign in all competitions and came at a time when Arsenal were largely dominating proceedings, finishing the affair with 67 percent possession and seven shots on target to Sporting's zero. The Englishman, who started on the left side of Emery's front-three, was one of six changes from the team that beat Leicester City 3-1 on Monday.

Teenage summer signing Matteo Guendouzi was particularly impressive playing in a deep-lying central role, with the 19-year-old completing 76 of 82 passes while spreading the pitch with deft diagonal balls.

Sporting enjoyed some threatening spells going forward, especially on the left side where Argentine international Marcos Acuna had the better of Arsenal's second-choice right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner through the opening 45 minutes. In the end, Jose Peseiro's charges suffer their first European loss of the season, now owning a three-point cushion on Ukrainian minnow Vorskla, who topped Qarabag FK 1-0 in Azerbaijan.

Arsenal will now look forward to Sunday's jaunt south to face Crystal Palace with an eye on a 12th win on the trot, which would match a streak that dates back to October 2007. During their current run, Arsenal have outscored opponents 31-9, registering four clean sheets.