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Arsenal continue their hunt for Champions League glory when the quarter-finals kick-off this week.
After navigating a clinical Round of 16 against Bayer Leverkusen, Mikel Arteta’s side now faces a Sporting CP team that completed a dramatic five-goal comeback against Bodø/Glimt in the last round.
With the first leg set for the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon on Tuesday, April 7, before the return at the Emirates on April 15, the Gunners know that a place in the final four, and a date with destiny in Budapest, is firmly within their grasp.
Arsenal head into the first leg in Lisbon as 5/6 favourites with bet365 to secure an away win, reflecting their status as the 2026 frontrunners. Sporting, meanwhile, are priced at 16/5 to cause another major upset on home turf, with the draw available at 27/10.
Here's everything you need to know about the Champions League quarter-final stages for Arsenal in 2026
The view from Football.London's chief Arsenal reporter, Tom Canton:
Arsenal will head into their Champions League quarter-final against Sporting CP as overwhelming favourites, but the Gunners should be wary of taking the Portuguese side lightly. It wasn’t so long ago that Sporting dumped Arsenal out of the Europa League, and memories of that night remain fresh, not least because of Pedro Goncalves, the man who famously scored from the halfway line that evening, who will once again be a danger to Mikel Arteta’s side.
Despite that history, there is a feeling that the bracket has been kind to Arsenal this year. For the first time since their run to the final in 2006, the club has a genuine opportunity to reach what would be only their second-ever final in this competition. The big question mark will be over player availability. With a high number of squad members recently pulling out of international duty, heavy rotation is expected for the upcoming FA Cup match against Southampton as Arteta looks to preserve his key men for the European stage.
The narrative of the tie is further heightened by the presence of Viktor Gyokeres, who returns to face his former club. Having effectively gone on strike to force through his move to the Gunners, Gyokeres’ intimate knowledge of his old side will be a valuable asset for the team. That said, it is equally possible that the Portuguese club will have his number, though the striker will be brimming with confidence following his sensational four-goal haul for Sweden and their subsequent World Cup qualification. If he can get firing in this tie, it could be the catalyst for Arsenal’s final push across multiple competitions.
Looking at the wider picture, Arsenal arguably should reach the final from this position. Were they to progress past Sporting CP, they would again be favourites against either Barcelona or Atletico Madrid, two sides they beat handsomely during the league phase earlier this campaign. While both Spanish giants represent a sterner test than Bayer Leverkusen or Sporting, they match up well against a Mikel Arteta style that excels at stifling opponents and proving physically superior.
An entertaining run to the final seems likely, though a potential showdown with Bayern Munich in Budapest could prove a hurdle too far. While Arsenal are statistically the best side in the tournament after winning eight from eight in the league phase, the advantage that continental giants like Bayern and PSG have in their respective leagues at this stage of the season often gives them a physical edge over Premier League clubs. It would be an incredible game, but for many, Bayern remain the slight favourites to take the crown.
Arsenal's potential route to the Champions League final:
Quarter-finals - Sporting CP
Semi-finals - Barcelona or Atletico Madrid
Final: Real Madrid, Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, or Bayern Munich
To win the Champions League odds with bet365:
Arsenal 9/4
Bayern Munich 10/3
Barcelona 9/2
PSG 5/1
Real Madrid 8/1
Liverpool 9/1
Atletico Madrid 20/1
Sporting 25/1
Win tickets to a Champions League match
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