Arsenal secured a place in the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday, surviving a tense goalless draw at home against Sporting Lisbon to progress 1-0 on aggregate.
Mikel Arteta’s side produced a below-par performance at the Emirates Stadium, yet clung to their slender first-leg advantage as Sporting failed to capitalise on the Gunners’ growing list of anxious displays.
Arsenal will now face Atlético Madrid for a place in the final, after the Spanish side eliminated Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate. Although Arsenal defeated Atlético 4-0 in the group stage at home in October, they will need a marked improvement to reach the final for the first time since 2006.
The north Londoners have now reached the Champions League semi-finals in consecutive seasons for the first time in their history. However, having lost three of their last five matches across all competitions and won only once, they remain a puzzling side in the midst of an untimely stumble.
Arteta had challenged his players to perform with “pure fire” and “zero fear” in an unusually passionate press conference on Tuesday, but the response was far from emphatic. Arsenal quickly retreated into their shell, lacking cohesion and quality in the final third.
The Premier League leaders remain on course to end a league title drought dating back to 2004, while chasing a first-ever Champions League trophy. Yet recent flaws have become increasingly evident: a League Cup final loss to Manchester City, an FA Cup quarter-final defeat to second-tier Southampton, and a shock 2-1 home loss to Bournemouth on Saturday have left Arteta facing pointed questions about his team’s character.
Arsenal now hold a six-point lead over second-placed City, who have a game in hand and host the Gunners on Sunday in a seismic showdown.
At the Emirates, the home side pressed furiously in the opening ten minutes but could not break through. After that initial assault faded, defensive jitters emerged. William Saliba’s wayward pass allowed Francisco Trincão to curl wide from the edge of the area.
Viktor Gyökeres, enduring an erratic debut season with Arsenal, struggled to make an impact. His only serious sight of goal came after a burst into the six-yard box, but he failed to get his shot away in time. Without the injured Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard, Arsenal’s attack was slow and unambitious, drawing anxious groans from frustrated fans.
Goalkeeper David Raya nearly gifted Sporting a goal with a woeful pass intercepted by Trincão, whose miscued attempt to find Luis Suárez let Arsenal off the hook. Geny Catamo then struck the far post with a volley from an acute angle just before half-time.
After the interval, Gabriel Martinelli blasted just over the bar, and a deflected effort from substitute Kai Havertz drifted wide. Sporting appealed in vain for a penalty after a slight push in the area.
Arsenal were creaking but held firm, allowing Arteta to breathe a sigh of relief at the final whistle.
