Arsenal vs Sporting CP: Champions League preview
Premier League leaders Arsenal will welcome Sporting CP to North London for the conclusion of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at the Emirates, with notable Mikel Arteta’s figures doubtful.
Looking back, Kai Havertz’s beautifully taken last-gasp winner, assisted by Gabriel Martinelli, settled the first leg in Lisbon as Arsenal claimed a 1-0 victory. Both sides created chances at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, but Havertz’s third goal in four Champions League games sealed Arsenal’s tenth win of the campaign and extended their unbeaten run in the competition.
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The Gunners are now also yet to lose in six European meetings with Sporting CP (W3 D3), including a 5-1 win in last season’s league phase. Sporting CP, though, remain firmly in the tie.
While their record against English opposition is modest, two wins in their last 14 UEFA competition meetings, they have historically fared well over two legs, progressing from nine of ten ties, and overcame Arsenal on penalties in the 2022/23 UEFA Europa League round of 16.
The Gunners, meanwhile, have lost only one of their last 12 matches against Portuguese sides, but Sporting CP, already matching their best-ever run in the competition , will believe they can go one step further.
Key stats
Viktor Gyökeres was a Sporting player between July 2023 and signing for Arsenal in July 2025. He scored 97 goals in his 102 appearances for the Lions, including six in eight Champions League games.
Arsenal are in their tenth European Cup quarter-final and a third in succession.
Last season’s 5-1 aggregate win against Real Madrid (3-0 h, 2-1 a) was only Arsenal’s third at this stage of the competition. They have never reached successive semi-finals.
Mikel Arteta’s side have won four of their last six Champions League knockout ties.
Arsenal have lost only two of their last 21 Champions League matches (W17 D2) and are unbeaten in this season’s competition (W10 D1), keeping seven clean sheets.
The Londoners have lost only one of their last 23 home European games (W17 D5), winning all five this season.
Sentiments from the camps
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal coach: “We are trying to do something that has not been done in the history of the club [by winning the Champions League] so that shows you the difficulty. We value a lot where we are. We are competing to win the Premier League, and we are in a really strong position without having won it for 22 years. What do I want to see from the players? No fear, pure fire. That’s it. That is what I want to see.” He noted.
Eberechi Eze, Arsenal midfielder: “We all know the position we’re in, we know what is at stake. [We have] loads of confidence and loads of belief. I think there is a freshness not having experienced negative things. But from what I can see there is so much belief, so much confidence.” Eberechi said.
Rui Borges, Sporting CP coach: “We have to maintain our identity regardless of the opponent or the competition. I don’t need to talk about hunger, because the players demonstrate courage. We have to enjoy the game, chasing something unprecedented, but we have to be aware of the difficulties. We have to do what no one has done in the Champions League, which is to beat Arsenal.” He said.
Maximiliano Araújo, Sporting CP defender: “We know it’s going to be very difficult, but we had plenty of chances [in the first leg]. It’ll be even tougher [in London], but that’s football, and we’ll have to put in a great performance without making any mistakes if we’re to turn this around.” He explained.
