It wasn't always pretty, but it was effective. A goalless draw at the Emirates against Sporting CP secured our place in the Champions League semi-finals, completing a 1-0 aggregate victory over the Portuguese champions. For the second year running, the Gunners are among the four best teams in Europe.
Following a shock home defeat to Bournemouth over the weekend, there were some nerves in the air at kick-off, and Sporting had the best of the first-half moments. Geny Catamo's volley beat David Raya and hit the far post, and Pedro Gonçalves blazed over from a good position. Maxi Araújo went down under a Cristhian Mosquera challenge and appealed for a penalty, but François Letexier waved it away, correctly.
Our own chances came and went. Gabriel Martinelli lifted a half-volley over the bar, and Leandro Trossard headed a Max Dowman corner against the post after the 16-year-old came on just before the hour and again changed the rhythm of a game.
The one sour note was Noni Madueke limping off with a knee problem, a real worry with Manchester City next.
The final whistle was met with a roar of relief and celebration from the North London faithful. We now turn our attention back to the domestic title race before a semi-final against Atlético Madrid, a side we beat 4-0 at the Emirates back in October.
Man of the Match: Declan Rice. His leadership and positioning were vital in the closing stages, constantly breaking up play and ensuring we never lost our shape.