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In-form Gyokeres has Arsenal fired before Sporting encounter
Watch the Champions League on DAZN - US, CA & NZ
Arsenal have been crowned champions of England 13 times but are arguably the biggest club never to win the Champions League.
They have only reached one final – losing to Barcelona in 2006 – and three semi-finals in 23 previous campaigns in Europe’s premier club competition dating back to 1971-72.
As Mikel Arteta’s side prepare to face Sporting CP in the quarter-finals, three days after their humiliating FA Cup quarter-final exit to Southampton, DAZN News reporter Ross Heppenstall suggests they can go all the way on European football’s biggest stage.
A litany of near-misses and heartbreaking failures
In the past 25 years, the Gunners have enjoyed a regular presence in the Champions League – but rarely have they looked like winning it.
In April 2001, a 1-0 defeat at Valencia sent them crashing out at the quarter-final stage on away goals.
Three years later, they were dumped out again in the last eight, this time after losing at home to Chelsea.
Then came that dramatic final defeat to Barcelona in Paris in 2006 before a quarter-final defeat at Liverpool in 2008.
Twelve months later, Arsene Wenger’s side were destroyed by Manchester United in the semi-finals before losing to Barcelona in the quarter-finals in 2010.
After a six-year absence from the Champions League, Arteta guided them back there in 2023-24, where they suffered a quarter-final defeat to Bayern Munich in 2024.
A 3-1 aggregate defeat to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain in last season’s semi-final saw the Gunners once again fall short at European football’s top table.
Unstoppable in Europe this season
Arsenal’s bid to win a quadruple was ended by their recent defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final and dismal loss to Southampton in the FA Cup on Saturday.
But they remain well placed to lift the Premier League title and Champions League.
No side could match the Gunners’ 100% record in the league phase of the competition as they flexed their muscles in style.
Arteta’s side racked up victories over Athletic Bilbao, Olympiakos, Atletico Madrid, Slavia Prague, Bayern Munich, Club Brugge, Inter Mila and Kairat Almaty.
Their eight straight wins harvested a record of 23 goals scored and just four conceded, giving them best attack and defence in the competition.
They then dispatched Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 on aggregate in the last 16, sending them into a mouthwatering quarter-final with Portuguese giants Sporting CP.
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Tricky tie for Gunners but one they can win
Sporting CP are trailing Porto in the Portugal Primeira Liga by five points, albeit with a game in hand, but it is in the Champions League where they have really impressed this season.
Rui Borges’ side finished seventh in the league phase of the competition with five wins, ensuring they avoided a play-off to make the last 16.
In the knockout stage, they were pitted against a Bodo/Glimt side who had emerged as arguably the best story of this season’s Champions League.
The Norwegian minnows embarked on a remarkable run which saw them beat Manchester City and Atletico Madrid in their final two league phase games.
That sent them into the play-offs, where incredibly they beat Italian giants Inter Milan in both legs to secure a Last-16 showdown with Sporting CP.
Although Bodo won the first leg 3-0 in Norway, Sporting showed their class with a 5-0 victory, after extra-time, to book their quarter-final with Arsenal.
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In-form Gyokeres ready to seize centre stage
Last July, Arsenal signed Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting for a cool £64million.
His form, fitness and even his weight have come under scrutiny at times this season in a Gunners side more famed for scoring from set-pieces than with freeflowing football.
But as the campaign has unfolded, Gyokeres’ stats stack up – for club and country.
The 27-year-old has netted 21 times for Arsenal and Sweden, with his four goals playing a huge part in Graham Potter’s side reaching the World Cup.
Gyokeres scored a hat-trick in the 3-1 win in Ukraine before notching again in the 3-2 victory over Poland which sealed Sweden’s place in this summer’s tournament.
He then netted again as a substitute during Arsenal's FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Southampton on Saturday, giving him five goals in his last three games.
The Swede can be assured of a warm reception in Lisbon on Tuesday night as he returns to the club he took by storm.
The former Brighton and Coventry striker has scored 97 goals in 102 matches and contributed 26 assists during his two seasons in Portugal to help Sporting claim two league titles.
Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Arsenal’s path to Budapest
As a result of finishing top in the league phase, the Gunners will have home advantage throughout the knockout phase thanks to a new rule implemented by UEFA at the start of the campaign.
It proved invaluable in the previous round when they drew 1-1 at Bayer Leverkusen before dispatching them 2-0 at the Emirates in the second leg.
After Tuesday’s first leg with Sporting in the Portuguese capital, they sides meet again in north London next Wednesday and the Premier League leaders will be favourites to progress.
Should Arsenal do so, they will face Barcelona or Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals, where they would again enjoy home advantage in the second leg.
On the other side of the draw, Paris-Saint Germain, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are all bidding to reach the final in Hungary on May 30.
Could Arsenal go all the way? Should they gain a positive result in Portugal on Tuesday, then Gunners fans will surely start to dream, if they are not already.
How to watch Sporting CP vs. Arsenal on DAZN
Soccer fans in the US can watch Sporting CP vs. Arsenal in the Champions League in Spanish language as part of their DAZN subscription package.
An annual upfront payment is $224.99 , while paying monthly for 12 months is $19.99 and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
CBS has coverage of every Champions League match in English language this season. You can get more details and subscribe to CBS's Champions League coverage here.
Fans can watch extra Champions League games in Spanish on ViX. A selection of those matches are also available on UNIMÁS and TUDN.
How to watch the Champions League in New Zealand on DAZN
Every Champions League game during the 2025-26 season is streamed in high definition and comes as part of a DAZN subscription.
An annual subscription costs $14.99 per month for 12 months and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
How to watch the Champions League in Canada on DAZN
Watch every game of the Champions League this season in Canada with a DAZN subscription.
There are three subscription options, each offering a different selection of sports. Access to every Champions League match is included in all three package offerings, ranging from $29.99 to $44.99 per month (for 12 months)
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