Arsenal have reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals for the second consecutive season after a 0–0 draw with Sporting CP sealed a 1–0 aggregate victory, Softfootball reports.
The Gunners had secured a narrow first-leg win in Lisbon, and their disciplined display at the Emirates ensured progression. The result leaves Arsenal as the only remaining English side in the 2025/26 competition and sets up a semi-final showdown with Atletico Madrid.
According to a recent post shared by transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano via his official X handle, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta defended his squad’s recent form after the match, pointing to the intense demands of the Premier League calendar, while admitting the team still “need to improve”. However, he urged appreciation for the players’ efforts during a congested schedule.
Romano shared:
Mikel Arteta: There is a reason why we are the ONLY English team in this competition. This schedule takes the hell out of you! We are not perfect, we need to improve things, that’s for sure, but let’s value what these players have done.
The achievement marks the first time in Arsenal’s 140-year history that the club has reached back-to-back Champions League semi-finals. It reflects steady growth under Arteta, who has transformed Arsenal into regular contenders both domestically and in Europe.
Mikel Arteta: It’s a massive moment. It’s the first time in our history, 140 years, that we are back to back UCL semi finalists. To be part of those teams is something very special.
In other reports shared by Romano, Arteta also praised the squad’s response after their recent league defeat to AFC Bournemouth, revealing that players held an internal meeting to review mistakes and commit to turning words into actions. He described the reaction as a sign of maturity and accountability within the dressing room.
Mikel Arteta: What I loved is the ownership the players took after the defeat here against Bournemouth. When they sat down together, they analyzed it, they said things face to face, they act on it. We need to put those words into actions.
Although some supporters noted Arsenal’s limited attacking output against Sporting, progression remains the priority at this stage of the competition. With the club also chasing the league title after losing the Carabao Cup Final to Manchester City, Arsenal remain in contention for a memorable double.
