Now this game is out of the way, Arsenal’s focus moves to what could be a title-defining game against Manchester City at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
The Gunners are hoping to win their first title in 22 years and are six points clear but have played one more game than Pep Guardiola’s side.
There is concern that without their attack firing, Arsenal will have to rely on their defensive excellence to get a positive result.
Arsenal only had one shot on target against Sporting and the combined xG of both sides in Wednesday’s match was 0.93 (0.64 Arsenal, 0.29 Sporting) – the lowest of any Champions League game in 2025-26.
That is also the lowest in any quarter-final match in the competition since Barcelona v Manchester United in April 2019 (0.68).
“[It was] a game with low intensity, no rhythm and zero goals. Boring, I would say,” Sporting captain Morten Hjulmand told CBS Sports.
“During the game I felt a lot of stops, especially during set-pieces. It takes a lot time out of the game, and rhythm as well.
“It is not the way Sporting wants to show itself. We want to score goals and create chances.”
Arsenal have kept a clean sheet in eight of their 12 games in the Champions League this season, more than any other side in the competition.
“I have got to say, out of possession Arsenal were excellent,” Chris Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“In that final third and open play, they are just not creating enough. But having said all that, it is just about getting through and Arsenal have found a way.
“If they don’t improve, they are certainly not going to win the Champions League, and if they don’t improve in the final third they won’t win the Premier League.”
Sutton believes Arteta will be thinking about Arsenal’s struggles in attack “every hour of the day”.
“Little things like the wide players are hesitant – they are not quite decisive enough in the way they think or attack,” Sutton said.
“With Viktor Gyokeres in the first half, he was clunky. The ball doesn’t stick, and you have to find your team-mate in the final third and be cute and be clever. He was anything but that.
“Kai Havertz went on. I am not saying he was brilliant, but they looked cleaner in terms of their actions.
“[Eberechi] Eze showed a few moments, but he is not up to speed. At this moment in time, Arsenal have a lot of work to do. Everyone will be thinking in the Premier League that it’s Man City’s game on Sunday.”
