Arsenal delivered a composed and tactically disciplined performance to secure a 0–0 draw against Sporting CP, sealing their place in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals with a 1–0 aggregate victory.

Following their narrow win in Lisbon a week earlier, Mikel Arteta’s side approached the second leg at the Emirates Stadium with control rather than urgency — and it showed. The opening stages were cautious, with both teams struggling to create clear-cut opportunities for nearly 20 minutes.

The first signs of life came in quick succession. Trincão tested the Arsenal goal with a curling effort that flew just wide, before Viktor Gyökeres responded at the other end with a similarly ambitious strike that narrowly missed the target.

Sporting CP came closest to breaking the deadlock just before half-time. After a sharp turnover in midfield, Ronald Araújo delivered a superb lofted pass into the path of Marcus Edwards, whose first-time effort crashed against the far post.

The second half unfolded exactly as Arsenal would have wanted. Known for their structured defensive shape under Arteta, the Gunners effectively neutralised Sporting’s attacking threats, allowing very little space in dangerous areas.

At the other end, chances were limited but still present. Eberechi Eze fired just wide of the post, while Gabriel Martinelli sent an effort over the crossbar as Arsenal looked to put the tie beyond doubt.

The closest the hosts came to scoring arrived in the 84th minute. From a corner, Leandro Trossard guided a precise header toward goal, only to see it come back off the post.

2025-26 UEFA Champions League

Arsenal - Sporting CP 0:0

Arsenal: Raya; Saliba; Mosquera Cr.; Hincapie; Gabriel M.; Zubimendi; Eze (Trossard, 79); Rice; Madueke (Dowman M., 63); Martinelli (Gabriel Jesus, 79); Gyökeres (Havertz, 56)
Substitution: Havertz (from 56); Dowman M. (from 63); Gabriel Jesus (from 79); Trossard (from 79)
Bench: Arrizabalaga; Setford; White B.; Salmon; Lewis-Skelly; Nørgaard

Sporting CP: Rui Silva; Diomande O.; Quaresma E. (Vagiannidis, 85); Inacio; Morita (Simões, 77); Pedro Gonçalves (Bragança, 71); Hjulmand; Catamo (Quenda, 72); Araújo M.; Suárez L.J.; Trincão (Nel R., 85)
Substitution: Bragança (from 71); Quenda (from 72); Simões (from 77); Vagiannidis (from 85); Nel R. (from 85)
Bench: Virgínia; Debast; Mangas; Blopa S.; Gonçalves Fl.; Kochorashvili; Faye
Yellow Cards: Araújo M. 80