Arsenal hold off Sporting to enter Champions League SFs
Arsenal have reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in consecutive seasons for the first time in their history after holding Sporting CP to a draw in a tight encounter.
The result was enough to send Arsenal through to the semi-finals, where they will face Atletico de Madrid.
Arsenal remain the only unbeaten team in this season’s Champions League, with ten wins and two draws from 12 matches.
The dominant side for much of the first half, Arsenal came close just before the half-hour mark when Eberechi Eze’s well-weighted pass found Martin Zubimendi’s dart into the box. Viktor Gyökeres looked to pounce after the Spanish midfielder’s cross was blocked, but an alert Gonçalo Inácio stopped him from converting at close range, UEFA reported.
However, for all Arsenal’s control, it was Sporting CP who produced the best chance of the first half, with Geny Catamo volleying Maximiliano Araújo’s cross onto the base of the far post following a 43rd-minute breakaway.
Araújo was involved again as the visitors threatened shortly after the restart, this time cutting inside but shooting wide of the far post with his right foot. Arsenal’s attacking threat continued as Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke came close in quick succession.
There was to be no breakthrough despite late chances at either end. Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard headed substitute Max Dowman’s corner onto the post in the 84th minute, before João Simões shot wide in stoppage time.
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal coach, said after the match, “My message was one of gratitude to the players. I know the effort and commitment they put in. There was a lot of work behind it, and we’ve done something that has never been achieved in the history of our club.”
—IANS
