Arsenal scrape into Champions League semis after goalless draw with Sporting

Teenager Max Dowman (second left) came on as a second-half substitute as Arsenal crept into the European Cup semi-finals after their goalless draw with Sporting - Hannah McKay/Reuters

History was made by Mikel Arteta’s players, although whether anyone ever returns to the page to relive this night’s action is another matter – certainly for now there is no time for looking back.

This team rolls on to the defining game of this Arsenal season – and many others – on Sunday, having reached the Champions League semi-finals in two successive seasons. Never before, in the august European history of this club, has that been achieved and Arteta finally could not help but make the point as emphatically as he felt necessary.

That was at the end of his press conference when, in exasperation at being asked about the team’s recent form, he embarked on an involved point about how little credit his players had been accorded. Had the Amazon Prime series been made about Arsenal this season he suggested “people would think we were in the bottom three”. It was his way of saying he does not agree with the scepticism directed at Arsenal in recent days.

While Tottenham Hotspur are in the Premier League bottom three, Arsenal are in a title showdown with Manchester City on Sunday and then will face Atlético Madrid in two weeks’ time over two legs in the semi-final. Only one Arsenal team has ever gone further, 20 years ago, when Arsène Wenger’s side were defeated by the first great Barcelona team of the 2000s in the Champions League final in Paris.

That turned out to be the high watermark of the Wenger era and it was downhill from there although the gradient of decline was relatively gentle for many years. Their successors did not thunder through the gate into the Champions League final four on this night. Once again Sporting CP proved themselves to be resilient opposition without the ultimate power to break down Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal head coach, has led the club to another European semi-final - Stuart MacFarlane/Getty Images

In the other semi-final the winner of Paris St-Germain and Bayern Munich will be the favourite for the final in Budapest on May 30, but first comes Atlético. Arsenal warmed up for the task of facing Diego Simeone’s great side of pressing devotees with a performance at times so conservative that it was hard to say it ever felt like a cup tie. Both teams had one shot on target apiece, both struck the post – and no neutral was sad when it was over.

There will have to be a lot more invention from Arsenal to win at the Etihad than they deployed to fight Sporting to a standstill. That is for another day, albeit a day that arrives indecently soon for this overloaded team. Afterwards, Arteta sought to praise the resilience of his players, including his captain on the night, Declan Rice, who he said was “shattered”, and not feeling his best but played for 94 minutes nonetheless.

The last kick of the game was a shot from substitute João Simões that brushed the side of the net of David Raya’s goal. It would be right to say that the final whistle was greeted more with relief rather than the euphoric affirmation of a European semi-final.

João Simões went close to scoring for the visitors - Peter Cziborra/Action Images

Not much inspiration, but plenty of times Arsenal’s shape looked solid and there were high levels of concentration on set-pieces and potential counter-attacks. Ideally Arteta would be able to rely on one or more of his players to conjure a match-winning moment in games like this one and on Sunday.

Bukayo Saka is unlikely to be back in the side for then and in his injury-absence his team-mates are struggling to find that edge. Eberechi Eze briefly threatened it on this night but never delivered. Poor old Viktor Gyokeres is still battling his own limitations.

At least Atlético will pose a challenge with which Arsenal are familiar – although perhaps none in Europe do it quite so well. When it comes to grinding down the creativity of the opposition, Simeone’s side are unparalleled.

While Sporting found it very hard to create the chances that gave them a clear sight of goal, for long periods they could live quite comfortably with Arsenal all over the pitch.

Indeed, at the start of the second half and until Arteta’s second wave of substitutions, the visitors were gathering momentum that felt like it could well lead to an equaliser. It was to Arteta’s credit that his team found a way to seize control.

Still no Jurrien Timber in the team and on the right Noni Madueke was once again locked in battle with the Uruguayan left-back Maxi Araújo who seemed to have Madueke’s number. The Englishman would come off injured in the second half but even before then it felt like his time was up. That injury may be yet another to add to the list.

Noni Madueke struggled to shake off the attention of Maxi Araújo - Ed Sykes/Getty Images

By the second half, Sporting gave the impression that Arsenal no longer held any fears for them and as Rui Borges, the manager, switched to a more attacking footing so they risked more. That included the second-half arrival of 18-year-old substitute Geovany Quenda, who has agreed to join Chelsea in the summer.

The promise of an evening of Eze inspiration never materialised and at the other end the elegant Portuguese playmaker Francisco Trincão had a greater effect on the game. Eze lasted longer than Gyokeres. Against his former club, across two legs, he has scarcely performed to the level that would convince the neutral observer that he would be worthy of a place in the Sporting XI.

Gyokeres was substituted after 57 minutes and Madueke followed him soon after. In his place came Max Dowman, now very much in the first wave of replacements when Arteta is seeking an impact.

Which is more often than not these days. Kai Havertz, the match-winner in Lisbon, came on for Gyokeres, and later Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus would replace Gabriel Martinelli and Eze. None of these attacking players are in great form and Arteta seems to be rolling the dice again and again in hope of a reaction. Arsenal did achieve some stability in the latter stages and during that time Trossard hit a post with a header.

10:26pm

TNT crew on Arsenal

10:24pm

Consecutive CL semi-finals

10:23pm

Mikel Arteta speaking to TNT Sports

10:18pm

Your views

• David Wilson: “Arsenal have played 56 games this season and lost six. They look jaded but to be in two big competitions in mid-April should satisfy most real fans.”
• Paul Jones: “Arsenal are about to play their first competitive game in the semi-final easy route or what? Just watched other quarter-finals, good luck you’ll need it.”
• John Matrix: “What a pity it’s PSG v Bayern in the semi final. The prospect of Arsenal in the final hardly fills this neutral with excitement. Just boring.”
• Graham Alder: “Arsenal running out of confidence - no swagger anymore.”
• Peter C Boyle: “Great chance now to reach the Final... PSG or Bayern....bring it on...”

10:15pm

Stat

10:14pm

Arsenal’s next five games

April 19: Manchester City vs Arsenal (Premier League)
April 25: Arsenal vs Newcastle (Premier League)
April 29: Atlético Madrid vs Arsenal (Champions League)
May 2: Arsenal vs Fulham (Premier League)
May 5: Arsenal vs Atlético Madrid (Champions League)

10:09pm

Post-match thoughts of Declan Rice

10:06pm

Semi-finals

PSG vs Bayern Munich
Atlético Madrid vs Arsenal

The semi-finals will be played on April 28/29 and May 5/6.

10:03pm

Consecutive CL last-four appearances for Arsenal

10:01pm

Quarter-finals

Tuesday:
Liverpool 0 PSG 2 (0-4 agg)
Atlético Madrid 1 Barcelona 2 (3-2 agg)

Tonight:
Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0 agg)
Bayern Munich 4 Real Madrid 3 (6-4 agg)

09:58pm

FT stats

Possession: Arsenal 50%-50% Sporting
Shots: 15-8
Shots on target: 1-1
Corners: 8-3
Touches in opposition box: 27-19

09:53pm

Full time

A late, late chance for Sporting as Simoes shoots from the edge of the box but he drags it narrowly wide. The Sporting fans for a moment thought the ball had crept in and there would have been plenty of nervous Arsenal fans as Simoes got his shot away.

That is the final act as Arsenal hang on to book their place in the Champions League semi-finals. They were unconvincing tonight, with this second leg ending in a 0-0 draw, but they advance 1-0 on aggregate and will face Atlético Madrid in the semi-finals.

09:51pm

90+4 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Sporting keeper Rui Silva plays it long into the Arsenal box but Raya catches.

09:51pm

90+3 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Sporting will have one final shot at getting this into the Arsenal box after a handball by Jesus.

09:50pm

90+2 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Arsenal are just a couple of minutes away from booking their place in the Champions League semi-finals. Sporting have run out of puff and are not posing much of a threat going forward anymore.

09:48pm Analysis

90 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Only four added minutes. That is ridiculous; it should be at least a few minutes more, considering Madueke’s injury and the substitutions.

Arteta just had a real pop at Trossard, I think for not holding his width near the touchline. The Arsenal manager was furious, screaming in Trossard’s face. There’s a lot of tension in here.

09:46pm

89 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

How many added minutes are we going to get? My guess would be six.

09:44pm

87 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Sporting have played pretty well for most of the game but they appear to have just run out of a little bit of steam.

09:43pm Analysis

86 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

The arrivals of Dowman, Jesus and Trossard have helped Arsenal. Dowman has won a few set-pieces and there just seems to be a different energy about the frontline now. Arsenal are forcing Sporting back, at least.

09:43pm

85 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Jesus does well down the byline and gets his shot away from a very narrow angle but it hits the side netting. Jesus nearly deceived Rui Silva, who thought Jesus was going to cross.

Double change for Sporting as Nel and Vagiannidis come on.

09:41pm Key moments

83 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Arsenal hit the post. Dowman’s corner from the right comes all the way to the back post, where Trossard has a free header but his effort comes back off the outside of the post.

09:40pm

82 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Sporting have threatened tonight but they are running out of time to score and bring the tie level.

09:38pm

80 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Havertz goes for an audacious back heel from eight yards out but he ends up just backheeling into himself.

09:37pm

79 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Araujo is into the book for a foul on Dowman.

09:36pm

78 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Mikel Arteta is making a double substitution as Jesus and Trossard replace Eze and Martinelli.

09:35pm

77 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Sporting have to negotiate a few Arsenal corners in quick succession, the latest whipped in by Dowman. It is fizzed in and has Rui Silva flapping in the Sporting goal but the visitors are awarded a free-kick.

A third change of the night for Sporting as Simoes is on for Morita.

09:31pm

74 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

As it stands, Arsenal are heading through to the semi-finals but the home fans inside the Emirates are very nervous right now.

09:31pm Analysis

73 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

A yellow card for Arteta, seemingly for repeated complaints about the officiating. A sign of the tension that is seeping into Arsenal’s night, perhaps.

09:28pm

70 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Mikel Arteta has been shown a yellow card.

Sporting make their first two changes of the night as Chelsea-bound Quenda and Braganca come on.

09:26pm

69 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

This game is currently out of Arsenal’s grasp. Sporting have really grown in confidence since half-time - having hit the post before the break. It feels like Arsenal have fired a lot of their best shots for now and this is Sporting’s part of the game. Just a question of whether they can equalise.

09:25pm Analysis

67 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

If Madueke is seriously injured, that is potentially a major problem for Arsenal ahead of the City game on Sunday, especially if Saka does not recover in time. That would be both of Arsenal’s right wingers out of the match. Would Arteta start Dowman on such an occasion? It would be a massive ask for the 16-year-old...

09:23pm Key moments

65 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Sporting want a penalty! Catamo’s deflected effort looks like it might find Araujo at the far post. There is a small push in the back by Mosquera on Araujo but was there enough of a push and did it prevent Araujo from getting on the end of it. The incident is cleared and Mosquera will be breathing a huge sigh of relief.

Penalty or no penalty? - Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

09:21pm

63 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

The corner is sent in to the near post and flicked on but the header is off target.

09:20pm

62 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

16-yard-old Dowman is being brought on to replace Madueke, who has got back to his feet but is still limping.

09:19pm

61 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Araujo wins a corner off Zubimendi, with Arsenal frustrated that Madueke was not given a free-kick for a potential foul by Goncalves on halfway in the build-up. Madueke has stayed down, clutching his right knee, and the corner will be delayed.

09:17pm Analysis

59 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Gyokeres hooked after 56 minutes and, to be blunt, he’s lucky to have lasted that long. A really poor performance against his former club. Wasteful in possession, unable to combine with his team-mates and so tame in front of goal. There’s no way he can start against City this weekend, surely.

09:15pm

57 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Madueke hits the side netting for Arsenal. He could have left it for Martinelli to take on the shot first time but keeps the ball himself before getting his shot away but his effort goes into the side netting. Madueke probably should have left it for Martinelli.

09:14pm

56 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

The first change of the night is made by the hosts as former Sporting striker Gyokeres, who was on the periphery of this game, is replaced by Havertz, who scored the only goal in Portugal in the first leg last week.

09:13pm

55 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

After a bit of a scramble inside the Sporting box, the ball falls to Martinelli in a central position near the edge of the box. He cannot keep his volley down and it goes over the bar.

09:07pm

49 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Eze takes one touch and shoots from range. He struck it well but it goes wide of the far post.

09:06pm

48 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

A decent chance for Sporting. Araujo is found in space on the left side of the box and he cuts back inside Mosquera. Araujo gets his shot away with his right but it goes wide of the far post. Another warning shot for Arsenal, whose one-goal advantage is looking vulnerable.

09:04pm

46 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

An early opening in this second half for Arsenal as Eze plays a cross in from the right side of the box but it is fairly easily caught by Rui Silva in the Sporting goal.

09:03pm

Second half

We are back under way at the Emirates. Arsenal do still lead 1-0 on aggregate but some nerves were growing inside the Emirates as that first half wore on. No changes from either side at the break.

08:55pm

HT scores

Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)
Bayern Munich 2 Real Madrid 3 (4-4)

It feels like all the goals have been reserved so far for Munich tonight, five in total before the break.

08:51pm

HT stats

Possession: Arsenal 56%-44% Sporting
Shots: 8-3
Shots on target: 1-0
Corners: 3-1
Touches in opposition box: 9-10

08:47pm

Half-time

The first half is brought to an end, much to Arsenal’s relief, and it is still goalless on the night, with Arsenal 1-0 up on aggregate.

08:46pm Analysis

45 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

There will be just one added minute at the end of this first half.

Sporting are really in this game. They’re tasting the opportunity, I think. Arsenal have opened the door with some sloppy passing and defending. It now feels like Arteta’s side could do with the half-time whistle sooner rather than later.

08:44pm Key moments

43 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Sporting hit the post and there are a lot of nerves inside the Emirates. Araujo stands up a cross from the left side of the box beyond the back post. Catamo runs onto it and hits it first time on the volley. He cuts across it really nicely with the outside of his left boot but it comes off the outside of the far post.

Sporting inches away from bringing the tie level at 1-1 - Hannah McKay/Reuters

08:41pm Key moments

40 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Sporting should have capitalised on a huge Raya error and should have taken the lead on the night. Raya plays a dreadful pass deep inside his own half that is intercepted by Goncalves, who has an easy pass forward into Trincao inside the Arsenal penalty area but the ball is terrible. A huge let-off for Raya and Arsenal.

08:40pm

39 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

The goals are still flying in in Munich, where Bayen Munich have equalised on the night and now lead Real Madrid 4-3 on aggregate.

08:39pm

38 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Both of Sporting’s centre-backs, Inacio and Diomande, have been linked with moves to the Premier League and their former teammate Gyokeres has not caused them too many problems.

08:36pm Analysis

35 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Francisco Trincao, who is sporting a truly magnificent moustache, is the big danger to Arsenal’s defence. He’s picking up the ball in all sorts of dangerous positions between the lines.

08:34pm

33 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Suarez is fouled by Saliba and that will give Sporting the chance to send a free-kick into the Arsenal penalty area. Trincao’s delivery though is poor as it is headed away by Rice, who was the first defender. Trincao is one of the leading men when it comes to assists in the Portuguese top flight and will want that one back.

08:32pm

31 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

No goals at the Emirates thus far tonight but there have already been three at the Allianz in Munich. Arda Guler’s stunning free-kick has put Real Madrid 2-1 up on the night and it is level at 3-3 on aggregate.

08:30pm

29 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

That was very important last-ditch defending from Inacio as the ball falls to Gyokeres just six yards out and Inacio has to step in to make the block. Could Gyokeres have taken that a fraction earlier with his left boot?

08:28pm

27 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

A lovely attack started from deep in their own half results in a corner for Sporting. The passing and touches were slick and now they have the chance to send a delivery into the Arsenal penalty area. Goncalves clips it in to the front post and the flick-on is attempted but goes away from goal before Arsenal clear their lines. Sporting are growing into this game and the home crowd are pretty quiet.

08:26pm

25 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Morita is penalised for a foul on Madueke just outside the Arsenal penalty area. Sporting are not too impressed with that decision, believing there was very little contact, but they will now have to defend a free-kick in a dangerous area.

Madueke takes the free-kick he won and clips it towards the back post but it is a fairly simple catch for Rui Silva in the Sporting goal.

08:24pm Analysis

23 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Spectacular defensive work by Martinelli there, dashing back to clean up a counter-attack after a botched free-kick by Rice/Eze. Sporting looked to be in trouble in the first 10 minutes but they’ve steadied in the game and look increasingly dangerous here.

08:21pm

20 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Sporting may be a goal down in the tie but their travelling fans are jumping up and down, making plenty of noise inside the Emirates.

08:20pm

19 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Saliba’s poor pass inside his own half gifts possession and Sporting counter. Hjulmand plays the ball into Trincao, who receives it and moves into the Arsenal penalty area. He cuts inside onto his left and looks for the far corner but his effort goes wide.

Down the other end, former Sporting striker Gyokeres has an effort for the hosts just outside the visitors’ penalty area but the shot goes over the bar.

08:18pm

17 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Hjulmand plays a pass forward into the path of Suarez on the left side of the box. Suarez, the leading goalscorer in the Portuguese top flight, drags his shot a long way wide and the offside flag goes up against him anyway.

08:17pm

16 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Bayern Munich have equalised on the night against Real Madrid and lead 3-2 on aggregate.

08:15pm

14 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Catamo has gone down inside the Arsenal penalty area and Sporting want a penalty. There is a small amount of contact from Hincapie on Catamo but does not look enough to give a penalty. It was enough though for Catamo to receive some treatment from the medical staff.

08:11pm Analysis

10 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Eze’s skill to beat Araújo (who had a decent first leg) by the byline was the archetypal ‘enough skill to dribble around him in a telephone box’ moment. It feels like Eze is up for it tonight.

08:09pm Analysis

9 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

We mentioned Eze in the pre-match discussion and he seems to be in the mood tonight. Arsenal have been accused in recent weeks of being too reluctant to play forwards but Eze is challenging that notion here, having driven forward every time he’s received the ball.

08:08pm

7 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

The first corner of the night goes the way of the hosts out on the left. Rice, Arsenal’s captain for the night, swings a ball beyond the back post but the ball goes over Zubimendi’s head and rolls behind for a goal kick.

08:07pm

6 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

After good work by Eze on the byline, the ball is worked to Hincapie near the edge of the box but the defender’s shot is blocked.

08:05pm

4 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0)

Over in Munich in the other quarter-final tonight, Real Madrid have scored in the first minute of the second leg to bring the tie level at 2-2 with Bayern Munich and you can follow that game right here.

08:03pm

2 mins: Arsenal 0 Sporting 0 (1-0 agg)

Hincapie wins the ball back for Arsenal on halfway and Eze drives forward through the Sporting half. He plays it out to his right to find Gyokers, who on the edge of the box looks to play it back to Eze but the pass is intercepted.

08:01pm Opinion

Kick-off

We are under way at the Emirates. Will it be Arsenal or Sporting who book their place in the semi-finals?

Arsenal were heavily criticised for the tifo they produced in the Champions League semi-final last season, at home to Paris St-Germain. It was quite a bland effort, with a white cannon on a red background. They seem to have learned the lesson from that: this season’s versions have been much more exciting. Tonight’s tifo is a lovely design with the words “HISTORY IN OUR SIGHTS”, although it does feature two injured players (Timber and Odegaard) and one another who is on the bench (Trossard).

Arsenal take a one-goal advantage into this second leg - Hannah McKay/Reuters

07:56pm

Nearly ready for action

Both sides emerge from the tunnel and we are just moments away from kick-off at the Emirates. In case you missed it, here is a reminder of how the two sides line up tonight:

Arsenal: Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Rice, Zubimendi, Eze; Madueke, Martinelli, Gyokeres. 
Substitutes: Arrizabalaga, Setford, White, Jesus, Norgaard, Trossard, Havertz, Dudziak, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman, Salmon.

Sporting: Rui Silva; Quaresma, Diomande, Inácio, Maxi Araújo; Hjulmand, Morita; Catamo, Trincão, Pedro Gonçalves; Luis Suárez
Substitutes: Virgínia, Vagiannidis, Mangas, Blopa, Debast, Kochorashvili, Bragança, Simões, Quenda, Faye, Gonçalves, Nel.

07:52pm

Pre-match thoughts of Mikel Arteta

07:49pm

Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira stopping by TNT Sports

07:45pm

Sporting’s last five results

Estrela Amadora 0 Sporting 1 (Liga Portugal)
Sporting 0 Arsenal 1 (Champions League)
Sporting 4 Santa Clara 2 (Liga Portugal)
Alverca 1 Sporting 4 (Liga Portugal)
Sporting 5 Bodo/Glimt 0 (Champions League)

Sporting overcame a three-goal deficit against Bodo/Glimt in the last 16 of the Champions League to reach this stage of the competition. They are five points off leaders Porto in the Portuguese top flight, but do have a game in hand over the leaders.

07:38pm

Arsenal’s last five results

Arsenal 1 Bournemouth 2 (Premier League)
Sporting 0 Arsenal 1 (Champions League)
Southampton 2 Arsenal 1 (FA Cup)
Arsenal 0 Manchester City 2 (League Cup)
Arsenal 2 Bayer Leverkusen 0 (Champions League)

Arsenal have now lost three of their last four games in all competitions, which has seen them drop out of two competitions and take a blow in their quest to lift the Premier League trophy.

07:33pm

Arsenal fans will be hoping for this good record to continue

07:28pm Opinion

Mosquera given nod at right-back

It looks like Ben White has been given a rest tonight, after starting the last five matches in all competitions. He struggled at times against Bournemouth this weekend and, depending on the fitness of Jurrien Timber, may be needed for the game against Manchester City this weekend.

Cristhian Mosquera comes into the team at right-back. It’s not his usual position but he has played there with some success in different stages of this campaign.

07:23pm

Flashback to March 2023

These sides met in the Europa League last 16. The second leg at the Emirates ended 1-1, with the tie level at 3-3 on aggregate, so it went to penalties. Ruben Amorim’s Sporting won 5-3 on penalties to advance. Here are the highlights from that night:

07:18pm

Quarter-finals

Tuesday:
Liverpool 0 PSG 2 (0-4 agg)
Atlético Madrid 1 Barcelona 2 (3-2 agg)

Tonight:
Arsenal vs Sporting (1-0 agg)
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid (2-1 agg)

Arsenal are the last English club still alive following Liverpool’s exit to PSG last night. Arsenal would face Atlético Madrid in the semi-finals if they get past Sporting tonight.

07:14pm

Mikel Arteta talking to TNT Sports

07:09pm

Teams in full

Arsenal: Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Rice, Zubimendi, Eze; Madueke, Martinelli, Gyokeres. 
Substitutes: Arrizabalaga, Setford, White, Jesus, Norgaard, Trossard, Havertz, Dudziak, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman, Salmon.

Sporting: Rui Silva; Quaresma, Diomande, Inácio, Maxi Araújo; Hjulmand, Morita; Catamo, Trincão, Pedro Gonçalves; Luis Suárez
Substitutes: Virgínia, Vagiannidis, Mangas, Blopa, Debast, Kochorashvili, Bragança, Simões, Quenda, Faye, Gonçalves, Nel.

07:05pm

Arsenal’s midfield is creaking and this is a recruitment failure

Such was the technical skill and tactical mastery that Martín Zubimendi displayed in his first few months in English football, Mikel Arteta went as far as describing him as Arsenal’s “best player”. That comment was made in October, after a narrow victory over Crystal Palace in which Arsenal’s opponents had attempted to man-mark the midfielder out of the game.

In that early phase of the season, it felt like Zubimendi had already exceeded Arsenal’s high expectations. They knew he was a fabulous player, having beaten Liverpool and Real Madrid to his signature over the course of a year-long pursuit, but they could not have imagined he would so quickly become so fundamental to Arsenal’s system.

06:59pm

Eberechi Eze, who starts for Arsenal tonight, speaking to TNT Sports

06:55pm

Sporting team

06:54pm Opinion

Eze the spark Arsenal need?

Eberechi Eze has been deemed fit enough to make his first start in a month, which could be hugely important for Arsenal. Eze’s last start was in the Champions League against Bayer Leverkusen, when he played superbly and scored an excellent individual goal. He has a great record at this time of the season and, as a new Arsenal player, has not been burdened by the disappointing conclusions to previous campaigns in recent years. If there is one player who could inject a bit of spark and invention into this struggling Arsenal attack, it’s Eze.

06:51pm

Both sides arriving

06:45pm Key moments

Arsenal team

06:41pm

Team news incoming

Declan Rice missed open training for Arsenal yesterday and was a doubt for tonight but he has arrived with the rest of the Arsenal squad. Will he be fit enough to start or only fit enough for the bench? Arsenal also have another massive game on the horizon as they travel to Manchester City in the league on Sunday so how much will that be on Mikel Arteta’s mind tonight?

06:38pm Key moments

Semi-final place up for grabs

Arsenal take a one-goal advantage into their second leg at home against Sporting in the Champions League quarter-finals, aiming to book their place in the semi-finals. Kai Havertz’s goal a minute into added time has earned Arsenal the lead in the tie.

Arsenal’s quest to win the Premier League title took a blow on the weekend as they fell to a 2-1 home defeat to Bournemouth. Midway through last month, Arsenal were still fighting on all four fronts but in the space of four weeks they have lost the League Cup final and were knocked out of the FA Cup by Southampton. It is a huge few days for Mikel Arteta’s side; after tonight’s quarter-final second leg in the Champions League, they will take on Manchester City in a crunch Premier League tie on Sunday.

“We have not been in this position in the Champions League ever in our history,” Arteta said. “We have overcome a lot of hurdles that were there for 140 years, they have never been done before. If we want to go to the next step, for sure, we have to have more ambition than anyone else. We are doing it, and are very, very close. No fear. Pure fire. That is it. That is what I want to see from the players, the people and myself. Go for every opportunity. It is unbelievable. We are in April, an incredible opportunity ahead of us. Let’s confront it and go for it. I am putting everything into it.

“Fire! I am on fire! I am dreaming so much. I have done so much to be in this position. Because I know how this club was. I have done so much against anything that I just see beauty, opportunity. I want to get it done who have been on this journey with us. They deserve it, it is unbelievable. I have zero fear. I had fear when: if we do not get this done, I do not know what happens to the club. Now? It is just purpose, fire, direction.”

Kai Havertz’s late goal in the first leg in Portugal last week gives Arsenal the advantage coming into tonight - Armando Franca/AP

Declan Rice was not in open training yesterday whilst Jurrien Timber, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori were also absent.

In between the two legs of this Champions League quarter-final, Sporting won 1-0 away at Estrela Amadora on Saturday as they chase down Porto at the top of the Portuguese top flight, where they are second, five points off the leaders but they do have a game in hand over Porto.

“It is natural that it is a decisive week, as we are getting closer and closer to the end of the season,” Sporting boss Rui Borges said ahead of the game. “The games become more decisive, but I only care about looking at the next one. And the next one is against Arsenal. Obviously we have hope. We know they are a great team when playing at home, but we like big challenges. I truly believe that we will have a good response in London.”

Team news to follow shortly.

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