Arsenal beat Sporting CP 1-0 on mixture in a goalless house draw on Wednesday to advance to the Champions League semi-finals.
Kai Havertz’s late winner in final week’s first leg in the end sealed Arsenal’s place within the final 4 towards Atletico Madrid, however Mikel Arteta’s facet have been removed from convincing on the Emirates Stadium.
Trincao despatched a shot extensive early on after William Saliba’s careless mistake led to Morten Yurmand scoring, however Victor Goqueres responded with a shot over Rui Silva’s crossbar.
Sporting ought to have been in entrance simply earlier than half-time when Maxi Araujo hit Katamo’s left-footed volley onto the publish. Minutes earlier, David Raya’s mistake had nearly given the guests away.
Sporting continued their momentum within the second half and Araujo’s shot went simply extensive, however Gabriel Martinelli fired a half-volley that Noni Madueke slotted into the alternative facet netting.
Sporting then withdrew a penalty attraction for Cristian Mosquera pushing Araujo from behind, with substitute Havertz trying a backheel end with simply over 10 minutes remaining.
Leandro Trossard headed house Max Domann’s right-hand nook within the dying seconds, however Arsenal saved their European goals alive and Joao Simoesas precipitated a scare in stoppage time with a right-hand nook extensive of the goal.
Champions League semi-finalists pic.twitter.com/4PGvD6x7jU
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 15, 2026
Information report: Protection makes up for Arsenal’s attacking misfires
Arsenal’s lackluster first-half efficiency was removed from the response they wanted after Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League defeat to Bournemouth, and the worrying development continued within the opening 45 minutes.
Arteta’s facet have scored only one non-penalty purpose within the first half of their final eight video games, however have scored zero of their final 5, and will probably be determined to vary that in Sunday’s potential Premier League title decider towards Manchester Metropolis.
However on this event, Arsenal did not want to attain. They’ve misplaced simply considered one of their final 24 house video games in Europe (W17 D6), shedding 1-0 to eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain in final season’s semi-finals.
Arsenal have additionally saved clear sheets in 17 of their final 23 European video games on the Emirates, conceding simply 9 objectives general.
This may all the time be a tricky name for Sporting. Sporting have didn’t beat Arsenal in any of their 9 conferences in European competitions (L4 D5), essentially the most any Portuguese facet has confronted with out a win.
And with Arsenal’s anticipated objectives (xG) simply 0.67 and Sporting’s 0.23 in a nervous recreation with only one shot on the right track for every crew, this second-leg encounter will not linger within the reminiscence for lengthy.
