Arsenal drew 0-0 with Sporting Lisbon at the Emirates on Wednesday night, to advance 1-0 on aggregate, making the semi-finals of the Champions League for a second consecutive season.
The game itself was tense in the first half, but Sporting were arguably the more confident team, with Geny Catamo striking the left post close to the interval.
Mikel Arteta's side allowed Sporting to dominate possession in the second half, and though they defended well, the Emirates crowd were audibly frustrated.
Leandro Trossard struck the post for the Gunners from a max Dowman corner with less than 10 minutes left on the clock, but while they did not score, the fact they kept Sporting at bay meant Arsenal won 1-0 on aggregate.
Arsenal will now face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals.
The dates for the two-legged tie have now been confirmed. The first leg will be played at the Metropolitano Stadium on Wednesday, April 29, before Arsenal host the return leg at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, May 5.
This marks the first time in the club's history that Arsenal have reached back-to-back Champions League semi-finals.
Atlertico Madrid booked their place in the last four after eliminating Barcelona with a 3-2 aggregate win in the quarter-finals.
This semifinal marks the sides’ first meeting in a European knockout tie since the 2017/18 Europa League semis, which Atlético won 2-1 on aggregate to reach that season’s final in Lyon, France. Earlier this season, Atleti lost 4-0 to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium during the third round of the league phase.
Atlético will not have good memories from October’s heavy loss to Arsenal, but six months have passed and the Rojiblancos are a much different team than the one which sustained that crushing defeat. The coaching battle between Diego Simeone and Mikel Arteta will take center-stage here, as this tie on paper features a fascinating contrast in styles: Arsenal’s defensive security and set-piece proficiency against Atlético’s quicker, transition-focused football.
