Arsenal secured their place in the Champions League semi-finals with a nervy 0-0 draw against Sporting Lisbon at the Emirates, advancing 1-0 on aggregate courtesy of Kai Havertz's injury-time winner in the first leg. However, the performance was far from convincing, with Mikel Arteta's side appearing flat, fatigued, and devoid of the fire he had demanded before the match.
The Gunners barely created a clear chance on the night and were fortunate not to concede, with Geny Catamo hitting the post in the first half and Maxi Araujo firing wide after the break. David Raya twice gave the ball away with risky passes from the back, while William Saliba also misplaced a pass straight to the opposition, underlining the team's anxiety.
Several key players looked off-colour, with Martin Zubimendi a pale shadow of his earlier-season form and Noni Madueke wasteful before going off injured. Viktor Gyokeres, the Sporting striker signed for £64m, was particularly poor, with everything bouncing off him. Arsenal's eighth clean sheet in 12 Champions League games this season was a positive, but the overall display raised concerns ahead of a crucial Premier League clash at Manchester City.
The semi-final draw pits Arsenal against Atletico Madrid, a tie that promises to be a war of attrition. Arteta's side will need to rediscover their belief and confidence quickly if they are to avoid another April fade, having already wobbled against Bournemouth last weekend. For now, relief rather than celebration greeted the final whistle.
