Arsenal player ratings vs. Sporting CP: Grades, how Gunners fared in Champions League quarterfinal second leg

Apr 16, 2026 - 02:00

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Arsenal player ratings vs. Sporting CP: Grades, how Gunners fared in Champions League quarterfinal second leg originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Arsenal have reached a breaking point in the 2025-26 campaign as they meet Sporting CP for the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal matchup.

The Gunners hold a 1-0 aggregate lead as they head home for the return fixture, having won narrowly in Portugal on a late-game Kai Havertz goal.

With a spot in the semifinals hanging in the balance and the Premier League title lead slowly leaking away, the time is now for the Arsenal players to step up and take hold of the trophies they seek.

The Sporting News evaluates the performance of those on the pitch for Mikel Arteta in the second leg of the UCL quarterfinal, knowing this match will be critical to finishing the season strong.

MORE:Should Arsenal fire Mikel Arteta if they fail to win a single trophy this season?

Arsenal starting lineup vs. Sporting CP

Mikel Arteta has gone with a more defensive back line, starting four natural central defenders as Cristhian Mosquera gets the nod at right-back over Ben White. Meanwhile, it was Gabriel Martinelli who rotates in at left wing, with Leandro Trossard on the bench.

Arsenal are still without Bukayo Saka who withdrew from England international duty in late March and has yet to return.

Mikel Arteta was also sweating the fitness of Declan Rice who picked up a knock and is a doubt for participation today, but he passed fit to start. Others who were checked before kickoff and failed to achieve availability were Martin Odegaard, Riccardo Calafiori, and Jurrien Timber, while Mikel Merino remains out for another month or so with a broken foot.

MORE:Get a closer look at all Arsenal injury updates and team news

Arsenal starting lineup (4-3-3): 1. Raya (GK) — 3. Mosquera, 2. Saliba, 6. Gabriel, 5. Hincapie — 36. Zubimendi, 41. Rice, 10. Eze — 20. Madueke, 14. Gyokeres, 11. Martinelli.

Arsenal subs: Kepa (GK), Setford (GK), White, Lewis-Skelly, Salmon, Norgaard, Havertz, Dudziak, Trossard, Dowman, Jesus.

Arsenal player ratings vs. Sporting CP in Champions League second leg

Starters

These figures will be updated LIVE as the match progresses.

Goalkeeper: David Raya — 5

Played the first 45 minutes without needing to make a single save. Made an extremely poor pass under pressure in the 40th minute that nearly handed Sporting CP a free chance. Hit on 50% of his long ball deliveries, which is standard.

Right-back: Cristhian Mosquera — 5

As you might imagine from a natural centre-back, looked very uncomfortable carrying the ball forward in possession and therefore struggled to provide any progression on the right flank. This forced Noni Madueke to carry much of the load, as he received the ball a bit deeper than you may want.

Shortly after halftime Mosquera completely whiffed defending Maxi Araujo whose little flick went right by and got a good look at goal with which the Sporting winger fired wide. He was again beaten by Araujo in the 65th minute and decided to give him a little shove in the back to prevent an open header on goal, and was very lucky not to concede a penalty.

Centre-back: William Saliba — 7

Four tackles in 45 minutes from a central defender is an excellent tally. Assured in possession, assured at the back. No issues whatsoever from the Frenchman. His only error was an ugly errant diagonal pass that gave possession away in his own half inside the opening 20 minutes, but it came to nothing for Sporting.

Centre-back: Gabriel — 7

Tidy work through 45 minutes from Gabriel, who avoided any major mistakes and didn't have much to do defensively. Could have communicated better with Hincapie on the missed Geny chance to inform his left-back that he was marking the wrong opponent.

Left-back: Piero Hincapie — 6

Arsenal were, as usual, very right-heavy in their ball progression, but Hincapie got forward a ton down the left wing and aided in the build-up where he could. A lively performance in possession from the Ecuadorian.

Made a massive defensive error just before halftime by leaving his man at the far post and getting sucked in towards the ball, marking Gabriel's man instead of watching his zone. Very lucky Geny Catamo didn't put Sporting in front.

Midfielder: Martin Zubimendi — 7

Was lively in both phases of the game as Arsenal's best performer of the opening half. Carried and distributed the ball forward well to start attacking possession, and also defended with strength and accuracy. Made four defensive contributions in the opening 45 minutes, including an impressive three tackles. Also completed a team-high five passes into the final third, and led the team through the first half with four recoveries.

Midfielder: Declan Rice — 6

A relatively non-descript first half featuring little in the way of influence from Declan Rice, but his passing was tidy, missing with just one of 39 attempts in the opening 45 minutes. He conceded much of the possession in the centre of the final third to Zubimendi, who shone on the ball.

Midfielder: Eberechi Eze — 7

Easily the most lively Arsenal playmaker, Eze was bright throughout that first half, especially early on as Arsenal pressed hard in the opening stages of the match. Delivered an absolutely sensational through-ball for the run of Martin Zubimendi on the half-hour mark.

Found himself in good shooting position in the 50th minute but disappointingly missed the target.

Right winger: Noni Madueke — 6

Caused problems for Sporting when on the ball in the final third. Won a foul in a dangerous position with a strong charge in the 21st minute which was wasted. Won another a few minutes later after nutmegging a defender, which he took himself and delivered well but was claimed by the goalkeeper.

Did well with a chance in the 56th minute, especially considering Martin Zubimendi got in his way as he drove towards goal, but ended up putting it into the side netting as he couldn't quite work room to shoot around the defender. His evening came to an abrupt end after picking up a knock to his knee, with Max Dowman replacing him in the 63rd minute.

Despite the impetus, Madueke struggled to get past defenders and find Viktor Gyokeres for the finishing touch, as Sporting repeatedly hacked the England winger instead of let him go by. While winning fouls can be a profitable strategy, it ultimately prevented him from completing attacking moves.

Left winger: Gabriel Martinelli — 6

Didn't have much to work with in the attacking half, as most of the buildup went through Eze and Madueke, with only 11 touches through the first half-hour. Got back and defended extremely well to cut down a Sporting counter-attack in the 22nd minute.

Produced a vicious volley early in the second half which fizzed just over the crossbar.

Striker: Viktor Gyokeres — 5

Was a threat at the head of the Arsenal attack, but fed on scraps a bit, with just four touches in the opening 30 minutes and 11 through the first half. Did poorly after cropping up on the ball in the six-yard box for his chance in the 28th minute. Didn't manage to create much for himself when on the ball, as he drew multiple defenders and failed to take advantage of the imbalance that left.

Substituted off in the 56th minute for Kai Havertz, having produced a disappointing performance.