Arsenal stand on the threshold of consecutive UEFA Champions League semi-final appearances for the first time in the club’s history as they prepare to host Sporting Lisbon at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, 13 April 2026, in the second leg of their quarter-final tie.
The Gunners carry a slender but significant one-goal lead into the home fixture, courtesy of Kai Havertz’s late winner in Lisbon — a goal engineered by Gabriel Martinelli — which settled the first leg 1-0 in Arsenal’s favour. That narrow margin provides a platform, though the circumstances surrounding the second leg are far from straightforward for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Arsenal’s domestic form has deteriorated sharply in the weeks surrounding the European tie. A 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth at the Emirates, their latest stumble, means the club have suffered as many league losses across their last four matches as they had accumulated across their previous 49 games this season — three in total. As a consequence, Manchester City have trimmed the gap at the top of the Premier League to six points, with a game in hand, setting up a potentially decisive encounter between the two sides at the Etihad this weekend.
In that context, a positive European result on Wednesday could carry considerable psychological weight heading into Sunday’s title showdown. Progression to the semi-finals, regardless of the manner in which it is achieved, may offer Arsenal a much-needed boost of confidence.
On the historical record, Arsenal have not been beaten in any of their six European meetings with Sporting CP, winning three and drawing three. That sequence includes a commanding 5-1 victory over the Portuguese side during last season’s league phase. More broadly, Arsenal have lost just one of their last 12 matches against Portuguese opposition. Sporting’s record against English clubs in UEFA competition is considerably more modest — two wins in their last 14 such ties — though they have demonstrated resilience across two-legged affairs, progressing from nine of ten knockout ties in European competition. Notably, Sporting eliminated Arsenal on penalties in the 2022/23 UEFA Europa League round of 16.
Arsenal’s Champions League form reads as largely positive — four wins, one draw and one loss across their last six European outings — while their form across all competitions tells a more troubled story, with three defeats in their last six matches. Sporting’s own form is mixed: two losses and a win in their most recent three Champions League games, though they arrive in north London having won three of their last four across all competitions.
On the team news front, Arsenal remain without midfielder Mikel Merino through a foot injury, confirmed as their only certain absentee ahead of the second leg. Martin Odegaard, Riccardo Calafiori, Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber are all described as doubtful, while Piero Hincapie and Eberechi Eze have both returned to fitness sooner than anticipated. Martin Zubimendi’s performance against Bournemouth raised questions about his availability, and Christian Norgaard could be handed a starting role in midfield as a result.
Sporting will benefit from the return of Morten Hjulmand, who missed the first leg through suspension after accumulating bookings. The Danish midfielder’s presence in the centre of the park will strengthen Ruben Amorim’s successor’s options significantly. Fotis Ioannidis is sidelined with a ligament injury, and former West Ham United winger Luis Guilherme is also unavailable with an ankle problem, but the visitors are otherwise reported to be in good health for the tie.
Possible starting lineups see Arsenal potentially lining up as: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Norgaard, Rice; Madueke, Eze, Trossard; Gyokeres. Sporting Lisbon are expected to field: Silva; Fresneda, Diomande, Inacio, Araujo; Braganca, Hjulmand; Catamo, Trincao, Goncalves; Suarez.
With Sporting requiring a goal to keep the tie alive, space is likely to open up on the counter for Arsenal to exploit. The home side’s defensive vulnerabilities at full-back — driven largely by their injury situation — remain a concern, but the structural demands placed upon Sporting in attack could ultimately work in the Gunners’ favour as they seek to secure a place in the last four.
