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Arsenal draw 0-0 with Sporting Lisbon to win 1-0 on aggregate, reaching the UEFA Champions League semi finals for a second straight season after a tense home leg.
Arsenal draw 0-0 with Sporting Lisbon to book spot in UEFA Champions League semi-final (AP)
Arsenal booked their place in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals after a tense 0-0 draw against Sporting Lisbon at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, securing a narrow 1-0 aggregate victory.
Mikel Arteta’s side were far from their fluent best in the second leg, but they did enough to protect their advantage from the first meeting and reach the last four for the second consecutive season.
How Arsenal Beat Sporting Lisbon?
Despite Arteta urging his players to show “pure fire” and “zero fear” before the match, Arsenal struggled to impose themselves after a bright opening spell. The hosts pressed with intent early on but failed to turn their dominance into clear chances. As the game settled, Sporting Lisbon grew into the contest and often looked the more dangerous side, exposing Arsenal’s defensive vulnerabilities.
The visitors came closest to breaking the deadlock just before half-time when Geny Catamo struck the post with a sharp volley, while Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya endured a nervy outing that almost gifted Sporting a goal. In attack, the absence of key players such as Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard was evident, with the Gunners lacking creativity and cutting edge in the final third.
Arsenal did create a few half-chances after the break, with efforts from Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke failing to alter the scoreline, while Leandro Trossard also hit the woodwork late on. Arteta made changes, introducing Kai Havertz and others in an attempt to regain control, and his side ultimately managed to see out the game despite late pressure from Sporting.
Rice And Arteta Relieved
“We are delighted, it was a really tough test over two games,” Arsenal captain Declan Rice said of the result.
“To get to back-to-back semi-finals is an amazing achievement and now we want to go one step further.”
Arteta echoed that sentiment after the match, saying, “The last 15 to 20 minutes we controlled the game really well and controlled the transitions,” and adding, “It’s a great night. I’m very happy for all our people. We are making steps that haven’t been done at this club for 140 years. Now we will have two magical nights, one in Madrid and one here.”
(With inputs from Agencies)
London, United Kingdom (UK)
April 16, 2026, 07:52 IST
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