Perhaps watching how officials in England treat Arsenal, Sporting CP complained to the referee , feeling the Gunners ‘received help’ from the officials.

LISBON, PORTUGAL - MARCH 09: Ricardo Esgaio of Sporting CP (R) tries to escape Oleksandr Zinchenko of Arsenal FC (L) during the UEFA Europa League round of 16 leg one match between Sporting CP and Arsenal FC at Estadio Jose Alvalade on March 9, 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images)
LISBON, PORTUGAL – MARCH 09: Ricardo Esgaio of Sporting CP (R) tries to escape Oleksandr Zinchenko of Arsenal FC (L) during the UEFA Europa League round of 16 leg one match between Sporting CP and Arsenal FC at Estadio Jose Alvalade on March 9, 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images)

Sporting Lisbon fullback Matheus Reis has accused Arsenal of grabbing players during set pieces and receiving help from the officials during their Europa League match on March 9th, which ended in a 2-2 draw.

After the game, Reis claimed that he was grabbed by Zinchenko during the match and that despite speaking with the referee, no action was taken.

“I was totally grabbed by Zinchenko and I don’t know how VAR didn’t say anything,” Reis told the Portuguese outlet, Record (via Sport Witness).

“In all set pieces they were holding. We spoke with the referee, but in the 2nd half it was the same and nothing was done. I don’t know what went through his head, but I hope that in the second leg that will change.”

Reiss, of course, makes no mention of the referee taking advice from the Sporting keeper, when he missed an incident, and then booking Gabriel Martinelli by mistake on the word of Adan.

On the night, both Sporting and Arsenal received two yellows each even though the referee gave 33% more fouls against the home side.