Arsenal have reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in consecutive seasons for the first time in their history after keeping Sporting CP out in a tight north London encounter.
A draw against Sporting was enough to send Arsenal through to the semi-finals where they will face Atletico de Madrid.
Arsenal remain the only unbeaten team in this season’s Champions League with ten wins and two draws from 12 matches.
The dominant side for much of the first half, Arsenal came close just before the half-hour mark when Eberechi Eze’s well-weighted pass found Martin Zubimendi’s dart into the box. Viktor Gyökeres looked to pounce after the Spanish midfielder’s cross was blocked, but an alert Gonçalo Inacio stopped him from converting at close range, UEFA reports.
However, for all Arsenal’s control, it was Sporting CP who produced the best chance of the first half – Geny Catamo volleying Maximiliano Araujo’s cross onto the base of the far post after a 43rd-minute breakaway.
Araújo was involved again as the visitors threatened shortly after the restart, this time cutting in but shooting wide of the far post on his right foot, while Arsenal’s continued danger was highlighted as Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke came close in quick succession.
There was to be no breakthrough despite late chances at either end – Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard heading fellow substitute Max Dowman’s corner on to the post in the 84th minute before Joao Simoes shot wide in stoppage time.
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal coach said after the win, “My message was gratitude to them the players. I know the effort and the commitment that they put in. There was a lot of work behind it and we’ve done something that has never been done in the history of our club.”
Late goals send Bayern to Champions League SFs
Late strikes by Luis Díaz and Michael Olise sealed Bayern’s place in the semi-finals after beating Real Madrid 4-3 in an epic Champions League quarterfinal second-leg.
Arda Guler bagged a brace in the first half, with Aleksandar Pavlovic and Harry Kane levelling twice. Kylian Mbappe made it 4-4 on aggregate just before half-time, but Luis Díaz and Michael Olise struck in the closing minutes after Eduardo Camavinga was sent off to give Bayern victory on the night and send them into the last four with a 6-4 aggregate win.
Bayern will meet Paris Saint-Germain in the final four with the first leg of the semifinal scheduled for April 28.
Trailing 2-1 from the first leg against opponents who had won all five of their previous Champions League home matches this season, Madrid made a lightning start to a daunting-looking task when Arda Güler met goalkeeper Manuel Neuer’s attempted pass with a first-time finish from distance after only 34 seconds.
That set the speed for a blisteringly entertaining first half, Aleksandar Pavlovi swiftly heading in Joshua Kimmich’s corner to restore Bayern’s aggregate lead before Andriy Lunin denied Kimmich and Guler levelled the tie again with a sublime free-kick.
Kane was always likely to play a part in a flurry of goals and a splendid touch and unerring finish from Bayern’s talismanic top scorer restored his side’s advantage.
Mbappe quickly put the visitors back in front on the night from a pass by Vinícius Júnior, who had lifted an attempt against the woodwork in between those strikes.
Both sides could be forgiven for easing the tempo after the break, although the action proved no less compelling as the flow of chances continued at either end.
After substitute Eduardo Camavinga was dismissed for the visitors four minutes from time, Diaz’s curling attempt from outside the box beat Lunin via a touch off defender Eder Militao. With Madrid throwing men forward Michael Olise added a ruthless finish with the final kick of a remarkable contest.
“t was a very emotional game. We had lots of possession and always had the feeling we could score. But Real Madrid are Real Madrid. They are always a threat. The boys were mentally strong to recover from setbacks. The fans helped us as well. We stayed calm and always felt that our moment would come. The next game is the biggest. We keep going,” said Vincent Kompany, Bayern head coach.
