Arsenal Vs Sporting CP Highlights, UEFA Champions League QF Leg 2: Gunners Go Through Despite Lack Of Cutting-Edge

• Location: London, England

• Stadium: Emirates Stadium

• Date: Thursday, April 16

• Kick-off time: 12:30 a.m. IST (Wednesday, April 15)

With Arsenal losing to Bournemouth last weekend, pressure is on Mikel Arteta to deliver silverware this season. Gunners, who are out of the FA Cup and lost to EFL Cup final to Man City, are in the quarter-final of the Champions League and maintain a six-point lead. However, a defeat this weekend could see City cut the gap to three and with a game in hand.

Arsenal's poor form has compounded by the fact that their key players have been out for a long time. They have been missing Jurrien Timber, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori in recent weeks - with question marks around Declan Rice's inclusion as well.

Arsenal XI: Raya, Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Rice, Eze, Martinelli, Madueke, Gyokeres

Subs: Setford, Arrizabalaga, White, Jesus, Norgaard, Trossard, Havertz, Dudziak, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman, Salmon

Sporting XI: Rui Silva, Morita, Pedro Goncalves, Catamo, Francisco Trincao, Araujo, Goncalo Inacio, Diomande, Hjulmand, Eduardo Quaresma, Suarez

Subs: Joao Virginia, Debast, Geovany Quenda, Vagiannidis, Kochorashvili, Faye, Braganca, Simoes, Goncalves, Blopa, Nel, Mangas

Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard confirms he has had an up and down season due to multiple shoulder and knee injuries.

"I had to go off during the second half of that game in Portugal last week, feeling my knee, which is why I missed the game at the weekend. I caught it a little bit against Sporting, but hopefully it shouldn’t be too bad," he said.

Mikel Arteta gave one of the most passionate display in his press-conference ahead of his side's Champions League second-leg quarter-final match.

"Fire. I am on fire. That's it! Nothing else," the manager said. "I am so driven. I have done so much to be in this position because I know what this club is worth.

"Now there is zero fear. It's purpose, fire and conviction that we're going to do it."

Sporting may have defeated PSG at home this UEFA Champions League 2025-26 league phase but their away form has been a worry. Their only win this season in the UCL came away to Athletic Bilbao (3-2) other than that they have suffered defeats, including 3-0 in the Round of 16 to Bodo/Glimt.

The Gunners lead 1-0 on aggregate after the first leg. The winner of this leg goes on to meet Atletico Madrid in the semi-final. Diego Simeone's side defeated FC Barcelona in the quarter-final.

Players are out on the carpet as we hear the famous 'Champions League music'. Good atmosphere inside the Emirates Stadium.

Away we go in north London and in Munich.

Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP 1'

Arsenal, with their home support, have started on a rapid note against Sporting CP. You see the Portuguese side, sitting deep and all the attack coming from the hosts.

Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP 5'

Sporting CP have started to settle down and are having more of the ball now. Emirates has fallen silent and seems like it has given them a sense of deja vu from the Saturday's performance.

Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP 11'

Gunners are getting into the right areas of the Sporting CP penalty area but still have unable to find that goal that could see them go 2-0 up on aggregate. Gunners bidding their time.

Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP 21'

Gunners finally try to attempt a goal as Eze feeds Zubimendi who cannot collect the ball and Viktor Gyokeres is on the edge of the six yard area but Goncalo Inacio manages to make a goal-saving block.

Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP 27'

Sporting CP are following the model that every team has come to the Emirates and successfully applied against the Gunners. Sit back and keep it level and hit them on the counter or via a set-piece.

Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP 37'

If Sporting score a goal next half, expect the fans inside the stadium to go bonkers. Arteta spoke about 'fire' in his press-conference, well the Spanish coach needs to instill that in his players come the following half.

Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP HT

Back under way in north London.

Gunners have looked their former selves in this half, but Sporting CP have had some chances. Mikel Arteta has been barking out orders on the sidelines and has not stopped.

Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP 51'

Max Dowman has been getting instructions and other than that, Gyokeres is subbed off with Havertz coming on.

Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP 55'

Noni Madueke has hit a player from Sporting CP and it seems he has injured himself in the process. Not good news for the hosts, especially with a long list of injuries they have been carrying.

Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP 59'

The atmosphere is as nervy as thin ice. Whenever Sporting break, the Emirates crowd holds its breath. It seems they know what will be happening next. Arsenal look uncomfortable out there and Sporting sense that.

Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP 69'

Big fifteen minutes plus stoppages coming in this QF. It's make or break for either side. Sporting goal sends this tie to ET and an Arsenal goal, sends them through.

Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP 75'

Visitors have been superb in holding Arsenal off as Trossard hits the post. That's as close as Arsenal have come to scoring all night.

Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP 83'

Sporting are tiring and it seems the Gunners have found bit if edge since their subs.

Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP 89'

Gunners are through to back-to-back semi-finals for the first time in their history.

Arsenal will take on Atletico Madrid.

Arsenal 0-0 Sporting (1-0 agg)

• Atletico Madrid v Arsenal

• Paris St-Germain v Bayern Munich

Ties to be played 28-29 April & 5-6 May.