Arsenal Vs Sporting CP LIVE Score, UEFA Champions League QF Leg 2: Rice, Eze Start - Check Playing XIs

Players are out on the carpet as we hear the famous 'Champions League music'. Good atmosphere inside the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners lead 1-0 on aggregate after the first leg. The winner of this leg goes on to meet Atletico Madrid in the semi-final. Diego Simeone's side defeated FC Barcelona in the quarter-final.

Sporting may have defeated PSG at home this UEFA Champions League 2025-26 league phase but their away form has been a worry. Their only win this season in the UCL came away to Athletic Bilbao (3-2) other than that they have suffered defeats, including 3-0 in the Round of 16 to Bodo/Glimt.

Mikel Arteta gave one of the most passionate display in his press-conference ahead of his side's Champions League second-leg quarter-final match.

"Fire. I am on fire. That's it! Nothing else," the manager said. "I am so driven. I have done so much to be in this position because I know what this club is worth.

"Now there is zero fear. It's purpose, fire and conviction that we're going to do it."

Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard confirms he has had an up and down season due to multiple shoulder and knee injuries.

"I had to go off during the second half of that game in Portugal last week, feeling my knee, which is why I missed the game at the weekend. I caught it a little bit against Sporting, but hopefully it shouldn’t be too bad," he said.

Arsenal XI: Raya, Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Rice, Eze, Martinelli, Madueke, Gyokeres

Subs: Setford, Arrizabalaga, White, Jesus, Norgaard, Trossard, Havertz, Dudziak, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman, Salmon

Sporting XI: Rui Silva, Morita, Pedro Goncalves, Catamo, Francisco Trincao, Araujo, Goncalo Inacio, Diomande, Hjulmand, Eduardo Quaresma, Suarez

Subs: Joao Virginia, Debast, Geovany Quenda, Vagiannidis, Kochorashvili, Faye, Braganca, Simoes, Goncalves, Blopa, Nel, Mangas

Arsenal's poor form has compounded by the fact that their key players have been out for a long time. They have been missing Jurrien Timber, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori in recent weeks - with question marks around Declan Rice's inclusion as well.

With Arsenal losing to Bournemouth last weekend, pressure is on Mikel Arteta to deliver silverware this season. Gunners, who are out of the FA Cup and lost to EFL Cup final to Man City, are in the quarter-final of the Champions League and maintain a six-point lead. However, a defeat this weekend could see City cut the gap to three and with a game in hand.

• Location: London, England

• Stadium: Emirates Stadium

• Date: Thursday, April 16

• Kick-off time: 12:30 a.m. IST (Wednesday, April 15)