Arsenal’s performance against Sporting Club in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final was not at their usual standard, yet it proved sufficient to secure progression to the semi-final.
They held an advantage from the first leg, which ultimately made the difference as they played out a goalless draw in front of their supporters in the return fixture.
There is likely to be criticism of their display, and many supporters may feel the team could have delivered more, but the Gunners will prioritise the outcome over the performance on this occasion.
Arsenal progress despite an unconvincing display
Arsenal were not as decisive or dominant as expected and at times looked vulnerable, particularly when Sporting threatened to break through their defensive structure.
The Portuguese side came close to scoring, including an effort that struck the post, highlighting that Arsenal were not entirely comfortable throughout the match.
Despite this, the Gunners managed to maintain their composure and secure the result required to move into the next round of the competition.
Declan Rice responds to criticism
Arsenal are aware that their next match in the competition will present a greater challenge, and improvement will be necessary if they are to progress further.
However, the players remain focused on the achievement rather than external opinions, as reflected in Declan Rice’s comments.
As reported by the BBC, he said, “I’m delighted. I’m so, so happy. We now want to go one step forward than last season and get to the final.
“Frustrating? No…we’ve just got to another semi-final. Who cares what people think.”
His response underlines the squad’s determination to focus on results and continue building momentum as they aim to reach the final of the competition.
Arsenal will now look ahead with confidence, knowing that while performances can improve, their ability to secure results remains intact at this crucial stage of the tournament.
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Legend!
We are one of the top four clubs in Europe, let that sink in!
Well done Mikel and the lads, making it to the semis we pocketed a 100M I guess so.
Next M Cheaty on Sunday. A mountain to climb with all the injuries we have and the cheating they have.
You could potentially have four more years of this.
Let that sink in.
Four more years of what was served up last night.
And according to the manager that was us “on fire” and playing with “no fear”
But we are in the semi final so at least we will pocket some money for that.
Might be able to sign a world class attacker that Arteta will completely suck the creativity out of…
Arsenal reach semi-finals for second year in a row, never happened before. If it’s easy we should have managed to do it more regularly, with all the great teams we have had.
Not beautiful to watch, but with lots of injuries on key players we are lacking creativity. I expect there will be traffic both ways in next transfer window.
Careful Didrik, mentioning injuries is an excuse 😁.
Last season with a similar number of key players sidelined for long periods and then rusty on their return, the team managed a creditable 2nd place finish and a CL semi final albeit with a less than stellar domestic cup record. Many comments suggested we’d fall out of the CL places
This season we are still in contention for 2 important trophies and made the final of one domestic title and the later stages of the FACup. Better depth has played its part
to be fair Sue I did say if we fail the same few will blame injuries then say 2nd isn’t bad lol
I’ll go check your predictions to see if you went for City and Cherries to beat us because you were so concerned about the injuries ?
I’m not getting the connection between what I answered to Didrik
I can’t say for certain if I’ve backed against Arsenal on those 2 occasions- mostly because I’m borderline pathologically incapable of calling against them. A draw at the worst.
As Arsenal are in a decent league position, I’d back them 99 times out of 100, but by all means look, if it rocks your boat
I’m not a gambler per se. The lottery or a once in a blue moon day out at Ascot hence I don’t treat Arsenal the same way as I would if money was at stake
I resoect that
When we had most players fit it was no different, so please stop with the BS.
We won, but it’s not entertaining…thats all there is too it, why the need to lie and claim it’s different when other players are fit?
Not sure why you should say someone is lying when they point out that Arsenal are trying to cope with injuries to several key players.
Arsenal have had injuries to key players all season and I would challenge you to tell us any period this season when Arsenal had a fully fit squad.
Terrible, just terrible. We’re being compelled to be gooners and have to put up with this. 🤦♂️
Declan…I would suggest that the paying supporters “care” considerably.
I was going to say the same thing Jax and if anyone thinks we are going to smash the semi and the final just look at the other three teams performances and be afraid, very afraid!
GB, yeah, I think that’s as good as it gets for us once again.
Jax
I didn’t think he was aiming that remark to the supporters but rather to the pundits, presenters and fans of other clubs who have piled in lately
Hope you’re right, SueP; otherwise it was very inappropriate of him TBH.
Suep: Agreeable
To be fair, he’s not the Manager. He’s done his best as usual and as per Manager’s instructions. Why should he care if at least we got the result, honestly?
I actually switched over to the Bayern Madrid game a few times last night.
Because it’s just the result that matters for us, right? No need to watch…
well yeah lol
Kia – Welcome to the club. Only the results matter after all!!
well yeah lol
offer me a 0-0 on Sunday mate and I’ll take it
I wouldn’t care how boring it is
If this happened (0-0), there would be an eternal after-party!!
It’s always the results that matter…..look at Mourinho’s Chelsea
Who cares what people think say’s Declan Rice. What arrogance, the paying public pay their money to be entertained, and here’s Rice saying who cares what people think.
What’s this connection the clubs meant to have with the fans?.
Now I know that his comment’s we’re probably directed at opposition fans, but I think it fare to say the comments we’re also aimed at Arsenal fans who dare to show their displeasure at the way the team is playing.
But as Rice say’s, who cares.
Why on earth would Rice make such a ludicrous statement to the Arsenal supporters? Those present sang North London Forever before and after the game. I sang it at home and I also listened to his post match interview as I’m sure you did Derek. Rice, as captain and Arteta would be mad at this stage of the season to alienate the very people who go or watch on tv or buy the shirts. They want the support
SueP, I am hoping he wasn’t aiming this at the Arsenal supporters, and hopefully at outsiders making a noise.
SueP,
I make you right that you’d suppose they wouldn’t be that stupid.
But I still think there’s a bit of my narrative that has merit.
Probably getting your name right deserves merit Derek and that’s about it in my opinion.
You say “what arrogance”…. why?
I don’t care what the media or anyone else says about the game last night.
It was a one off match that we needed not to lose under any circumstances and who cares how we did it?!
Real Madrid had great game last night and… they lost 😂😂
Who cares about Real Madrid now??
Ken1945,
We’ll have to agree to disagree on this one.
Derek, it is a self-centered thing to say. However, what I believe he really means is that he can’t afford to allow himself to get caught up in the back and forth dribble that is out there from many potential outside influences including gooners. He simply knows that his absolute focus has to be on being the best player he can be regardless of anything else. He is dedicated to bringing home the bacon for the fans and his employers and I suspect believes that tuning out all the noise is the best way to do it. I’d be very surprised if he really doesn’t care about what the fans think when the heat of battle (and this clearly is for him) is concluded. I’m sure he would admit that he didn’t express himself very well in this instance.
Nah BB…. He said exactly what he meant and felt…. and I bet 99.9 % of Arsenal fans feel the same.
Listen to all BS being said on Tal***ite about how we played… WHO CARES!!
ken1945, I know what you’re saying and he would undoubtedly take it with a grain of salt but I believe he would still ultimately care about the fans on some level. Even those who, perhaps while considered to be misguided or uninformed, still support him and the club.
got to say dude
that’s not how it came across to me
I think he meant the outside noise as in the interviewer asked was it a frustrating night and he was trying to say it’s all positive, he’s not listening to negativity ( as in the question lol)
100% in agreement Dan!!
Well said Declan Rice, you’re not in the entertainment business, you’re in profession sport. Who gives a monkeys what people say, we’re through to another CL semi final for the second consecutive season for the first time in our history.
I would just say “sport” is still “entertainment” much the same way singers/artists are “entertainment.”
It is all entertainment, not like they are performing surgery and saving lives or creating technology, farming, etc…. it is not a necessity of life, therfore entertainment.
“Entertainment is any activity, performance, or form of media that holds an audience’s attention, providing amusement, pleasure, or diversion during leisure time. It encompasses both passive consumption (movies, music, TV) and active participation (games, sports), serving as a break from daily routines.”
At least as AI and Google define entertainment
To me entertainment is going to the theatre to see a show or going to a concert to see a gig. Neither at a show or a gig are the entertainers competing against others, unlike in sport.
“Sports” or “entertainment” aside, if we put out a performance like we did against Sporting in the next round, we might get through against AM, although I wouldn’t be confident. Against a Bayern or PSG, we will get toasted!
Kia, if we get through to the Final we could always do what Chelsea did when they first won against Bayern Munich…
I get your point, but attendance is “passive” for the crowd, during their leisure time, hence entertainment. If they were soliders, police, emergency workers, etc… I would agree with you. But they are athletes, nothing more nothing less, so they provide entertainment, not life saving training or providing the necessities of life.
We shall just agree to disagree on this one Herr Drier.
Durand, I also get what you’re saying to a point. I’d much rather see the football that we played from ’97 to ’06 but I also liked the football that won us 3 trophies in 2 seasons (’93 and ’94) including our 2nd European trophy.
No problem with your last sentence fella 👍
Herr Drier
I was not a fan back in ’97, we did not get games here in the states until around 2008, as I can best recall.
I watched all the teams play, and it was Wenger and Arsenal that played hypnotic football in my opinion; it was how we played growing up.
However, if pragmatic football gets us a title after 2 decades and change, it is fine by me; for this year’s title anyway.
Let’s go, and hopefully we can all celebrate at the end of the season.
Durand, sorry I didn’t know about when football was first shown in the USA. The football we played in the Wenger Highbury days were the best I’ve ever seen The Arsenal play since I first started to go to watch them in the 75/76 season.
Yes hopefully we’re successful this season and then hopefully the way we play will change next season 🤞
Herr Drier,
You’d get on well with the old Liverpool player Ray Houghton. He said the very same statement you did regarding go to the theatre if you want to be entertained.
I can’t agree with you on this occasion. The paying public have every right to expect a certain level of performance and be entertained. I can’t for the life of me, think that anyone would pay good money and except boring side to side backward passing, taking an age over most set-Pieces. Slow and boring football.
I must have it wrong, because it appears in you’re case, you’re more than happy to.
Each to their own as they say.
Derek, I paid good money to watch us win the domestic Cup Double and the CWC and the football was very entertaining. Celebrating at Islington Town Hall and on the streets of Copenhagen, no one cared about the football we played. I dare say the same will happen this season if we win at least on trophy.
Herr Drier,
As I say, each to their own. 👍
Wow!!!! Rice was ill and was touch and wether he played against Sporting. What a warrior. Pity we haven’t a few more like him. He is our one man midfield.
Might have been why he looked and sounded so flat after the game. Usually, he’s so affable when interviewed
Agree.
👍Reggie
Reggie,
Who cares. 😂🤣👍
Yes Rice is perfect. Who cares about the doubters and detractors with their ‘get over the line’ mantra. There is always an asterisk with City’s triumphs as they’re under investigation.