Arsenal fought to a tense draw against Sporting in the second leg of their Champions League tie to earn a spot in the semi-finals against Atletico Madrid.
The Gunners started the match on the front foot but lacked quality in the final third and allowed their visitors to weather the early storm and swing momentum their way.
Arsenal struggled to create chances in the final third and were caught out a few times as a nervous tension descending on the Emirates stadium.
Sporting’s Geny Catamo had the chance of the half with a strike from the right side of the penalty area just before the half-time break and the attacked struck the far post with David Raya beaten.
The hosts came out of the blocks as the better side in the second half too, and they controlled proceedings for much of the final 45 minutes as Sporting struggled to create anything while Leandro Trossard hit the post and Ebere Eze and Gabriel Martinelli went close.
And in the end Arteta’s side did enough to prevent Sporting from threatening their lead, with the Gunners booking a second successive Champions League final – this one against Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid.
Follow all the latest reaction from the Emirates with our live blog below.
Anxious Arsenal survive in Champions League but must snap out of troubling mindset
It didn’t feel like Arsenal had just qualified for only their second Champions League semi-final in 17 years. The final whistle came with overwhelming but cautious relief rather than ecstasy; the feeling that Arsenal had got away with one by the skin of their teeth, but next time they won’t be so lucky.
Had Joao Simoes 94th-minute effort crept a few inches to the left, this last-eight tie was heading to extra time. That would’ve been catastrophic for their physical state ahead of their biggest game of the season on Sunday. In their current mental state, Arsenal progression would not have been a safe bet.
Mikel Arteta made a rallying cry in which he asked Arsenal’s supporters to come to the Emirates not with their dinner, but with “pure fire” and “zero fear” for the visit of Sporting. Fans struggled to comply. There was less a fire in their bellies, more a collective knot.
The stark reality facing Liverpool after PSG cause Champions League deja vu
Déjà vu all over again for Liverpool, eliminated by the French champions for a second successive season, but this time without the drama of penalties or the sense of what might have been. A Paris rematch brought the same scoreline as last week, another 2-0 win. Ousmane Dembele, who got an Anfield winner last season, added a brace. Compared to last year, the margin of victory was bigger as Paris Saint-Germain secured a semi-final against Real Madrid or, more probably, Bayern Munich. This trophy may remain in their grasp for another year.
Liverpool can reflect on the damage done in Paris last week though the broader conclusion might be that, after £450m of spending, they have slipped further away from the European elite. They finished third in the league phase this year but they have rarely looked plausible winners of the competition. PSG, 11th in a large league table, are in the last four, their blend of defiant defending, electric attacking and midfield finesse looking them a class apart from the English champions.
Bayern Munich knock out Real Madrid in Champions League epic
Less than three minutes after Madrid substitute Eduardo Camavinga had been sent off, Diaz drilled home his side’s third equaliser before Olise struck in stoppage time to clinch a 4-3 win on the night.
The victory extended Bayern’s unbeaten run to 16 games in all competitions and sealed a 6-4 aggregate triumph, a first over the Spanish giants in a two-legged tie since 2012.
ICYMI: Rice reacts to quarter-final triumph
Here’s the full interview with Declan Rice after the Gunners secured their spot in the semi-finals:
ICYMI: Arsenal secure semi-final spot
This was the moment Arsenal sealed that semi-final spot!
Champions League semi-finals
Here is the line-up for the final four of the 2025/26 Champions League!
Atletico Madrid v Arsenal
Paris St-Germain v Bayern Munich
Ties will be played 28/29 April & 5/6 May, with PSG and Atletico at home for the first legs.
Arsenal’s clash with Manchester City will be decided by ‘moments’ and ‘mistakes’ says Joe Cole
Former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole claimed that this weekend’s Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester City will be decided by “mistakes” and “moments”, with Pep Guardiola’s side “absolutely the favourites” to win.
Arsenal currently have a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League though City have a game in hand, and they could cut the lead to just three points with a win at the Etihad this weekend.
Champions League semi-finals set
The results of the two ties this evening mean we now know who will contest the semi-finals of the 2025/26 Champions League.
Arsenal will face Atletico Madrid, with the first leg at the Metropolitano on either the 27 or 28 April.
And holders PSG will take on Bayern Munich, with the Parisians at home in the first leg before the second leg at the Alllianz on 5 or 6 May.
Patrick Vieira backs ‘really important’ Declan Rice to drive Arsenal to silverware
Former Arsenal captain, Patrick Vieira, believes that the club can shake off a poor run of form and still win silverware this season with midfielder Declan Rice a ‘really important’ leader for the team.
Arsenal have seen their hopes of winning a quadruple brutally deflated in recent games after defeats in the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup preceded a shock 2-1 loss to Bournemouth in the Premier League.
The results have seen the Gunners lose three of their last four games but they hold a slim 1-0 lead over Sporting CP after the first leg of their Champions League quarter-finals.
Pundits speak on City game
“City have found their mojo again, the manager has gone back to the basics,” says Martin Keown on TNT regarding this weekend’s game against Man City.
“Bernardo Silva is like a little lieutenant, Rodri is coming back in.
“Arsenal just need to find form. Finding form in April is key to winning the Premier League, he adds.
“There wasn’t much within the teams and I don’t think there will be at the weekend. I still think in this one-off it’ll be moments within the game, it’ll be mistakes. It’ll be edgy, blocked off,” adds Joe Cole.
“Absolutely City are favourites. I don’t think it bothers them. He’s [Guardiola] playing mind games with everyone else.
“You knew he’d come up with something. It’s going to be good!”
