Arsenal has secured its place in the 2024–25 UEFA Champions League semi-finals, holding out for a nervy goalless draw against Sporting CP at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday to seal a 1–0 aggregate victory over the two legs. The result comes at a time of growing unease around Mikel Arteta’s side, who have struggled for consistency in recent weeks across all competitions, but survived a string of late scares to progress.
The north London club carried a narrow one-goal advantage into the second leg of the quarter-final tie following their first-leg win in Lisbon, but Arteta’s men were far from their fluent best on home soil. Missing key attacking starters Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard through injury, Arsenal failed to replicate the cutting edge that has seen them lead the Premier League for much of the campaign, and spent much of the 90 minutes clinging to their aggregate lead.
Arteta had delivered an unusually impassioned pre-match press conference on Tuesday, urging his players to take the field with “pure fire” and “zero fear” to silence growing criticism. While Arsenal launched a high-intensity press in the opening 10 minutes, the early attacking urgency fizzled out quickly, leaving the side exposed at the back. A sloppy misplaced pass from center-back William Saliba put Sporting winger Francisco Trincao in on goal, though the Portuguese attacker curled his effort just wide of the target.
Summer signing Viktor Gyokeres, who has endured an inconsistent first season in north London since moving from Sporting, again failed to make a telling impact in attack. The striker’s only clear opening came after a burst into the six-yard box, but he was unable to get his shot away in time before defender Goncalo Inacio cleared the danger.
Arsenal grew increasingly edgy as the first half wore on, drawing anxious groans from the frustrated home crowd. Gunners goalkeeper David Raya nearly gifted Sporting an equalizer when a dangerous mispass was intercepted by Trincao, but the winger’s misplaced cross toward Luis Suarez let Arsenal off the hook. Just before halftime, Geny Catamo came inches within giving Sporting the aggregate lead, volleying against the far post from a tight angle, leaving the hosts still clinging to their advantage.
After the break, Arsenal carved out several half-chances to put the tie to bed: Eberechi Eze’s long-range drive whistled just past the post, Gabriel Martinelli blasted a half-volley narrowly over the crossbar, and Noni Madueke curled an effort into the side-netting. Arteta responded to his side’s lack of attacking punch by bringing on Kai Havertz for the underperforming Gyokeres, with Max Dowman replacing the injured Madueke later in the half.
Sporting thought they had a late penalty when Maxi Araujo went down under a slight challenge from Cristhian Mosquera, but referee waved away appeals to the frustration of the visiting side. Though Arsenal creaked under sustained late pressure from Sporting, the defense held firm to see out the clean sheet and the aggregate win.
The result marks a historic milestone for Arsenal: it is the first time the club has reached the Champions League semi-finals in consecutive seasons in its history. Up next, Arteta’s side will face Atletico Madrid for a place in the final, after the Spanish club progressed with a 3–2 aggregate win over Barcelona on Tuesday. Arsenal crushed Atletico 4–0 at the Emirates in the group stage back in October, but Arteta will know his side must drastically improve to reach their first Champions League final since 2006.
The progression comes amid a worrying run of form that has raised questions about Arsenal’s ability to end their long trophy drought. The Gunners have lost three of their last five matches across all competitions, claiming just one win in that stretch. Recent setbacks include a defeat to Manchester City in the League Cup final, an FA Cup quarter-final exit to second-tier Southampton, and a shock 2–1 home Premier League loss to Bournemouth at the weekend that has intensified scrutiny of the side’s mental strength.
Arsenal currently sit six points clear of second-placed Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, though Pep Guardiola’s side has a game in hand, and the two sides face a decisive title showdown at City’s Etihad Stadium this Sunday. Arsenal have finished as runners-up for the past three consecutive seasons, having blown sizeable title leads to City in both 2023 and 2024, and nerves around the club’s title bid are already growing. The club has not won a Premier League title since 2004 and has never lifted the Champions League trophy, leaving Arteta’s side chasing two historic milestones amid an untimely late-season slump.