Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, praised the fighting performance of his players during the second leg against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League quarter-finals, emphasizing that the team showed strong character despite the difficult circumstances and fatigue.

Arteta said: "Yes, 100%, I saw the spirit I asked from the players, especially in difficult moments, when we lose the ball and in situations that are not typical of us."

He continued: "The level of desire from everyone was clear on the field; every player was ready to give their all for the team."

The Spanish coach praised midfielder Declan Rice, who led the team during the match, explaining: "Declan was extremely exhausted and had no chance to play. He wasn't feeling well at all, but he gave it his all."

He added, "Every player on the team puts all their energy into contributing and delivering the best possible performance."

Regarding Noni Madueke's injury, Arteta said: "I don't know the nature of the injury yet, but it was a problem with his knee, so we had to substitute him."

This comes as Arsenal is dealing with several absences, particularly on the right side, ahead of the anticipated match against Manchester City.