15/04/2026
|| Arsenal Hold Firm Against Sporting to Book Champions League Semi-Final Spot.
London, April 16: Arsenal secured their place in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals after a goalless draw against Sporting CP in the second leg of their quarter-final clash, progressing 1-0 on aggregate.
The match at the Emirates Stadium ended 0-0, with Arsenal doing just enough to protect the narrow advantage earned in the first leg in Lisbon. A late stoppage-time goal by Kai Havertz in the away fixture proved decisive in the tie.
Despite dominating possession, Arsenal struggled to create clear chances, managing only limited attempts on target. Sporting, however, came close to forcing extra time, with Geny Catamo hitting the post and late pressure nearly breaking the deadlock.
Arsenal’s defensive resilience played a key role, as they recorded another clean sheet to see out the tie. Manager Mikel Arteta’s side showed discipline at the back, even though their attacking performance drew criticism for lacking fluency.
With this result, Arsenal advance to the semi-finals for the second consecutive season and are set to face Atlético Madrid in the next round.
Sporting exit the competition with pride after a competitive two-legged contest but will regret missed opportunities, particularly in the second leg where they created the better chances.