A tough test in Portugal (April 7)
Sporting Lisbon, buoyed by their historic remontada against Bodo/Glimt, made life extremely difficult for Arsenal. The Portuguese side played aggressively with a high press, causing the Gunners plenty of problems in build-up play. In the first half it was actually Sporting who came closest to scoring, with David Raya in excellent form between the posts.
The decisive moment arrived in the 45th minute. Gabriel Martinelli was brought down in the area following a quick counter-attack. Bukayo Saka stepped up and coolly beat the home goalkeeper from the spot. In the second half, Arsenal focused on managing the result, rarely allowing Sporting to threaten their penalty area.
Advantage ahead of the Emirates return
A 1:0 away win is the ideal result for Mikel Arteta. While Sporting showed they are a dangerous side, Arsenal rarely drop points at home. The Gunners are one step away from their first Champions League semi-final in many years. The second leg takes place on April 15 in London.