Arsenal FC v Sporting Clube de Portugal - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg
Madueke was forced off against Sporting (Picture: Getty Images)
Arsenal face a nervous wait to learn the extent of Noni Madueke’s knee injury but the winger appeared in good spirits as he celebrated the Gunners reaching the Champions League semi-finals.
A dull stalemate against Sporting CP at the Emirates on Wednesday was enough to secure Arsenal’s place in the final four of the competition thanks to their 1-0 away in Lisbon last week.
The result set up a semi-final showdown with Atletico Madrid but Mikel Arteta’s focus for now is on a season-defining Premier League clash with Manchester City on Sunday.
The Arsenal boss is already dealing with a string of injury problems with Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori all absent.
There was also concern for Madueke when he was forced off in the second-half against Sporting.
The former Chelsea star, who had a separate injury scare while on international duty with England last month, collided with Pedro Goncalves on the touchline with Max Dowman brought onto replace him for the remainder of the game.
Arteta confirmed it was a knee issue post-match but was unable to provide any further update. ‘It was something in his knee, we had to take him off,’ Arteta said.
Noni Madueke at FT.Doesn’t look overly concerned about the knee issue that forced him off.Potentially good news for Arsenal. pic.twitter.com/GLP7FbyOwW
— Ryan Taylor (@RyanTaylorSport) April 15, 2026
‘I don’t know the extent of that.’
But there appeared to be positive signs at the final whistle in footage recorded by journalist Ryan Taylor.
As Arsenal players celebrated the hard-fought result that booked their place in the semi-final, Madueke hobbled over to join his teammates with Saka and Timber also emerging from the tunnel.
While moving with a limp, the winger did not appear too concerned by the issue, smiling and laughing with his teammates.
Arsenal FC v Sporting Clube de Portugal - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg
Madueke was in good spirits after the game (Picture: Getty)
Arteta will be expected to provide a further update on his winger when he speaks to the media on Friday.
Saka has not played since the Carabao Cup final with Arteta revealing this week he is dealing with an Achilles injury.
Having still not returned to first-team training, he remains a doubt for Sunday’s trip to the Etihad.
Madueke has served as Saka’s understudy all season but any doubts over his fitness could open the door for 16-year-old Dowman to start against Pep Guardiola’s side.
MORE: Sporting Lisbon star aims major dig at Arsenal after ‘boring’ Champions League clash
MORE: Thierry Henry issues warning to Mikel Arteta ahead of Man City vs Arsenal
MORE: Joe Cole makes Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid Champions League semi-final prediction