Pale Arsenal, even paler Sporting: Second consecutive UCL semis for Arteta's Gunners

Triple the intensity of the expression “hard-fought victory”, and you may realize how Arsenal advanced to the Champions League semi-finals. The Gunners struggled and trembled with fear throughout the 90 minutes of the return leg against Sporting Lisbon, eventually failing to win but snatching a crucial goalless draw that secured them a 1-0 triumph on aggregate.

In arguably the dullest and most uneventful duel of the current UCL campaign, Arsenal fought not to lose, while Sporting waited for the Londoners’ mistake and lost the battle in the end.

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The Portuguese club came the closest to the eventual winner two minutes before the break, when Geny Catamo hit the post. On the other hand, the Gunners hit the woodwork in the 84th minute after Leandro Trossard’s header.

In 90 minutes, the rivals made 22 attempts, but only two on target, and that’s the story behind this clash and its lack of goals.

Still, Arsenal must be thrilled despite the subpar performance, as they reached their second consecutive Champions League semi-final, where they’ll face Atletico Madrid.

Copy Lisbon - paste London.

That was the best summary of the opening half at Emirates Stadium.

However, unlike the clash eight days ago, when each team hit the woodwork once before the break, this time only the visitors did so, as their forward, the Mozambican Geny Catamo, hit the post after Sporting's counterattack and a nice action in the 43rd minute.

Before that, Arsenal had a sterile domination, but without a single decent chance to break the deadlock. Eberechi Eze was the most active among the Gunners, though he couldn't make an impact all by himself.

The Portuguese side was waiting to hit on the counter and had several chances to do so, but the lack of focus in decisive moments ruined those opportunities to stun the home team.

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The second half started with a few decent attempts on each side (all off target), though the game was still as uneventful as it gets. At the same time, Mikel Arteta tried to mix things up by subbing on the match winner from the first leg, Kai Havertz, for pretty indisposed Viktor Gyokeres before the hour mark. Minutes later, Noni Madueke was forced to leave the pitch with an injury, as Arsenal's wonder boy Max Dowman took his place.

Nevertheless, not much has changed... The Gunners still had possession, but seriously lacked creativity, failing to turn it into a proper chance. On the other hand, Sporting lurked their chance, which didn't seem likely to come.

In the final 10 minutes, Arteta sent Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard to the pitch, and the latter had a massive chance, the best for the home team, in the 84th minute, hitting the post with a header after a corner kick.

That moment marked the last chance in this quite poor game, that took Arsenal to their second consecutive UCL semi-final.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - QUARTER FINALS

Return leg

Tuesday

Atl. Madrid - Barcelona 1-2 (1-2)

/Lookman 31 - Yamal 4, Torres 24/

Atletico win 3-2 on aggregate

Liverpool - PSG 0-2 (0-0)

/Debele 72, 90+1/

PSG win 4-0 on aggregate

Wednesday

Arsenal - Sporting Lisbon 0-0

Arsenal win 1-0 on aggregate

Bayern Munich - Real Madrid 4-3 (2-3)

/Pavlovic 6, Kane 38, Diaz 89, Olise 90+5 - Guler 1, 29, Mbappe 42/

Bayern Munich win 6-4 on aggregate