Optimism abounding at kick off : Picture by @YTJourno
In a pre-match pitchside interview, Lee Dixon described the night as a 'free hit' ahead of the big one on Sunday against Man City. As if reaching Champions League semi-finals happen all the time.
As it happens, the Gunners will be in only their fourth such contest - and very much hoping to go one better than last year, when PSG thwarted their hopes in Europe's blue riband event.. Atletico Madrid stand in their way of a Budapest final.
But what a contrast to last season's exhilarating quarter-final win over Real Madrid. This one was all about grimly holding onto a precious single goal obtained in the first leg in Lisbon.
They were fortunate that Sporting offered so little going forward and that they seemed happy to sit in and wait for most of the night. In truth, Arsenal were once again devoid of a cutting edge and struggled to create meaningful chances. They were once again not an easy watch.
Getting the job done is the main thing perhaps, but another night of nervous energy was hardly the best preparation for Sunday's summit clash with City. Nor was the performance, which once again told the tale of a team simply not at one with itself.
Arsenal offered plenty of early energy but little guile to go with it. The noise from the stands soon gave way to a familiar torpor.. For all their abundant possession, keeper Rui Silva wasn't being tested.
On the counter, the Portuguese looked fleetingly dangerous. Francisco Trincao fired wide from a good position. Geny Catamo volleyed against the base of the far post after latching onto a cross from the left by Max Araujo.
The 'Fire' that Mikel Arteta spoke about coursing through his veins ahead of the match was not much in evidence on the pitch. The Gunners boss got himself booked for showing a bit too much fire from the dug out but passion was not necessarily the missing ingredient.
There were a couple of off-target efforts from Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Martinelli after the interval as tgere was a brief raising of intensity. Noni Madueke slammed a shot into the side netting.
But there was to be no fairytale moment for Viktor Gyokeres against his old team as he was withdrawn before the hour was up - the first leg goalscorer Kai Havertz coming on instead.
Madueke took a knock, which heralded the introduction of Max Dowman - the huge cheers for the teenager's arrival a sign of the home fans' desperation for some kind of inspiration.
Leandro Trossard nodded against the outside of the far post from a corner, but not even set pieces could unblock this constipated performance. Games at this stage of the competition really ought to be better than this, you would think.
**Gunners:** (4-2-3-1) Raya - Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie - Zubimendi, Rice - Madueke (Dowman 63), Eze (Jesus 79), Martinelli (Trossard 79) - Gyokeres (Havertz 56)
**Lisbon:** (4-2-3-1) Rui Silva - Quaresma (Vagiannidis 85), Diomande, Goncalo Ignacio, Araujo - Hjulmand, Morita (Simoes 77) - Catamo (Quenda 71), Trincao Nel 85), Pedro Goncalves (Braganca 71) - Suarez