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With a promising season hanging in the balance, Mikel Arteta hopes to finish the job and secure a spot in the Champions League semifinals as Arsenal host Sporting CP in the second leg of their quarterfinal matchup.
Arsenal exploded through the first half of the 2025/26 campaign, racing to the top of the Premier League standings and the Champions League league phase.
Yet the last two months have seen the positivity slowly leak out of Emirates Stadium due to a lack of form, as their lead atop the domestic table shrinks and their Champions League hopes grow more uncertain.
The Gunners carry a 1-0 aggregate lead into this match after a nervy victory on the road in Portugal last week, and they will look to seal a spot in the final four, still seeking their first-ever European title.
The Sporting News is following the Arsenal vs. Sporting CP match live, providing score updates, commentary, and analysis.
Arsenal vs. Sporting CP live score
AGGREGATE SCORE: Arsenal 1-0 Sporting CP
Location: Emirates Stadium (London, England)
Referee: Francois Letexier (FRA)
Starting lineups (predicted):
Arsenal (4-2-3-1, right to left): Raya (GK) — White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie — Zubimendi, Rice, Eze — Madueke, Gyokeres, Trossard.
Sporting CP (4-4-2, right to left): R. Silva (GK) — Quaresma, Diomande, Inacio, Araujo — Hjulmand, Morita — Catamo, Trincao, Pote — Suarez.
Arsenal vs. Sporting CP live updates, highlights
2 hours to kickoff: There is a palpable nervousness around the Arsenal fanbase at this critical point in the campaign. While once there was talk of an historic quadruple, there is suddenly a helpless feeling that the season is slowly slipping away from them, and the possibility remains that the Gunners somehow end this season without a single trophy in their grasp.
Today is an important piece of the puzzle, while the Premier League game against Man City on the weekend will be most critical. If Arsenal do indeed fall apart at the final hurdle, what should they do with Mikel Arteta? The Spaniard has given everything to the Arsenal cause, and has built them up from Premier League doldrums to a European power, but if he can't get over the hump, is it worth moving on?
We took a look at this difficult and painful question, while coming to one pretty clear conclusion.
Ahead of a critical Champions League quarterfinal second leg, I discussed whether Arsenal should fire Mikel Arteta if they finish this season without a trophy.
There's a pretty clear answer.https://t.co/YQUv0zTCTd
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) April 15, 2026
Arsenal vs. Sporting CP kick off time
This Champions League quarterfinal second leg kicks off from Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, April 16 at 8 p.m. local time in London, England. Here's how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:
Date Kickoff time
USA/Canada Wed, Apr. 15 3 p.m. ET
USA/Canada Wed, Apr. 15 12 p.m. PT
UK Wed, Apr. 15 8 p.m. BST
Australia Thu, Apr. 16 7 a.m. AEST
India Thu, Apr. 16 12:30 a.m. IST
Arsenal vs. Sporting CP lineups, team news
Arsenal are still without Bukayo Saka who withdrew from England international duty in late March and has yet to return.
Mikel Arteta is also sweating the fitness of Declan Rice who picked up a knock and is a doubt for participation today. Others who will be checked before kickoff include Martin Odegaard, Riccardo Calafiori, and Jurrien Timber, while Mikel Merino remains out for another month or so with a broken foot.
MORE: Get a closer look at all Arsenal injury updates and team news
Arsenal projected starting lineup (4-3-3): Raya (GK) — White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie — Zubimendi, Rice, Eze — Madueke, Gyokeres, Trossard.
Arsenal subs: (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
Sporting boss Rui Borges has nearly all his first teamers available for selection in this match bidding for a comeback.
The only players set to miss out for sure are Ivan Fresneda and Nuno Santos, both of whom have played only minor roles so far this season. Meanwhile, Fotis Ioannidis and Luis Guilherme are doubts and will be checked for availability before kickoff.
Sporting CP projected starting lineup (4-2-3-1): R. Silva (GK) — Quaresma, Diomande, Inacio, Araujo — Hjulmand, Morita — Catamo, Trincao, Pote — Suarez.
Sporting CP subs: (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
Arsenal vs. Sporting CP live stream, TV channel
Here is how to watch the match in some of the world's major regions:
Region TV Streaming
USA — Paramount+
Canada — DAZN
UK TNT Sports 1 TNT Sports Ultimate
Australia — Stan Sport
India Sony TEN 1 Sony LIV