Arsenal drew 0-0 with Sporting CP at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night in an uninspiring but tense game to book their place in the Champions League semi-finals for the second successive year.
The Gunners won the first leg 1-0 on aggregate thanks to some late heroics from Kai Havertz, but the performance in north London left many critics questioning the team’s momentum.
Despite lacking an attacking spark, Mikel Arteta’s side managed to survive a tough game and set up a tasty showdown with Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals.
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Declan Rice: “Who cares what people think?”
Speaking to TNT Sports shortly after the final whistle, Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice was unapologetic about the pragmatic nature of the win.
Rice hit back at criticism that has been mounting following the club’s recent poor form, with suggestions the performance was “frustrating” for the home supporters.
he said:
“I’m happy. I’m very happy. We’re now one step ahead of last season and we want to get to the finals. Are we disappointed? No…we’re only getting to the semi-finals. Nobody cares what people think.”
Rice stressed that in the knockout stages of Europe’s elite competitions, results are the only statistics that matter.
“There’s a sense of tension because the stakes are so high. We stayed disciplined, kept a clean sheet and are in the top four. That’s the reality.”
Next up is a big game against Manchester City.
Celebrations in Europe will not last long as the focus shifts to the domestic campaign, which has once again entered a tumultuous phase.
Arsenal head to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday to take on Manchester City in the Premier League title decider for what will be a ‘make or break’ weekend.
Arsenal’s season is at a critical juncture after their recent 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth, which saw them eliminated from both the FA Cup and League Cup.
With injuries mounting, including fresh concerns over Noni Madueke, Arteta must find a way to reignite his team’s attacking rhythm if they are to beat Guardiola’s defending champions.
