Arsenal will defend a narrow first leg lead when they face Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday night.
The two sides meet in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium, live on eSPORTY.
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However, it is not their first European knockout clash during Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal reign.
The Gunners boss will be hoping for a different outcome this time around, though.
His side twice let a lead slip across the two legs of their Europa League last 16 tie back in 2023.
Arsenal were ultimately beaten 5-3 on penalties in north London following a 5-5 draw on aggregate.
Gabriel Martinelli’s missed spot-kick proved to be the difference from 12 yards.
The Gunners had taken a lead in the first leg in Portugal before going on to draw 2-2.
They also scored first at home only for Pedro Goncalves to lob Aaron Ramsdale from just inside the Arsenal half.
Meanwhile, the penalty defeat to Sporting three years ago has been credited with starting an alleged curse involving Kim Kardashian.
Kim Kardashian’s curse explained
The social media star was in attendance for the match at the Emirates Stadium.
Kardashian, who is now dating Arsenal fan and Formula One icon Lewis Hamilton, also facetimed Bukayo Saka prior to kick-off.
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It would not be the first time a club would lose with her cheering them on in the stands, though.
Players have also suffered setbacks after being pictured with Kardashian in recent years.
Arsenal fans’ fears over the alleged curse resurfaced the following season as they faced Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
The two sides met at the Emirates Stadium for the first leg of their quarter-final tie.
Kardashian was rumoured to be in attendance for the contest, which ended in a 2-2 draw before Arsenal were beaten on aggregate.
Further evidence of her supposed curse had already appeared just a week after the Gunners’ loss to Sporting.
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She headed to the French capital to watch Paris Saint-Germain face Rennes in Ligue 1.
PSG went on to suffer their first home league defeat of the season as they were beaten 2-0.
Signs of the curse had already been on display months earlier, though, after Kardashian was spotted in a retro Roma jersey.
Just a day after she was pictured in the club’s colours, they conceded a late goal to lose away at Napoli.
Kardashian’s curse even appears to have extended to individual players.
The 45-year-old met England and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham in the summer of 2024.
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However, the midfielder was ruled out with a muscle injury just a month after they were pictured together.
Arsenal eye last four
Arsenal fans will be hoping Kardashian is far from the Emirates Stadium this week as they eye a second consecutive semi-final appearance.
The Gunners lead 1-0 from last week’s first leg in Portugal after Kai Havertz’s stoppage time winner.
A victory over Sporting will set up a last four meeting with either Barcelona or Atletico Madrid.
Arsenal can call on an impressive record against their opponents, who have never beaten them in 90 minutes.
Their only defeat across eight previous matches was their penalty shootout defeat three years ago.
