\n<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
There is concern that without their attack firing, Arsenal will have to rely on their defensive excellence to get a positive result.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
That is also the lowest in any quarter-final match in the competition since Barcelona v Manchester United in April 2019 (0.68).<\/p>\n
“[It was] a game with low intensity, no rhythm and zero goals. Boring, I would say,” Sporting captain Morten Hjulmand told CBS Sports.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“It is not the way Sporting wants to show itself. We want to score goals and create chances.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“I have got to say, out of possession Arsenal were excellent,” Chris Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
Sutton believes Arteta will be thinking about Arsenal’s struggles in attack “every hour of the day”.<\/p>\n
“Little things like the wide players are hesitant – they are not quite decisive enough in the way they think or attack,” Sutton said.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“Kai Havertz went on. I am not saying he was brilliant, but they looked cleaner in terms of their actions.<\/p>\n
“[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.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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