Arsenal 1-1 (let, 3-3 on agg) Sporting Club de Portugal — 5-3 on pens to Sporting by Layth Yousif at Ashburton Grove 

RUBEN AMORIM’S side emerged victorious after a dramatic evening in north London that saw the visitors from Portugal’s capital emerge 5-3 winners on penalties, after an absorbing 1-1 draw after extra time.

Where to start on such an action-packed night in Islington? 

Sporting’s Nuno Santos hit the winning spot-kick after Gabi Martinelli’s effort was saved by Antonio Adan to send their travelling fans massed in the away end at Ashburton Grove into deep joy.

The triumph came after a truly remarkable long-range effort from Pedro Goncalves just past the hour mark lit up this match, sending the tie into an unwanted additional 30 minutes, in which neither side could grab a winner.

It was to be no consolation for Gunners fans that north London had witnessed a stunning strike for the ages that left Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale furiously backpedalling in a futile bid to avoid his own recreation of Gunners goalkeeping legend David Seaman being lobbed by Nayim and Ronaldinho from the halfway line during his career. 

The spectacular effort, which must be favourite for goal of the season, equalised Granit Xhaka’s 19th-minute opener, as both teams attacked with vigour in a bid to emerge victorious from this absorbing tie.

“A huge blow,” reflected Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on the Euro exit after the match. “We really wanted to go through and fight in the competition and go for it. We tried for 120 minutes and the penalties, and it wasn’t enough [but] congratulations to Sporting CP for going through.”

With the aggregate score poised finely at 2-2 following a lively first leg in the Portuguese capital last week, Gabriel Jesus made his first start for Arsenal since November 12 against Amorim’s side.

In an early switch Ben White replaced a stricken Takehiro Tomiyasu with barely eight minutes gone, after the Japan star overstretched in his challenge with No 17 Trincao, that saw the former Bologna defender leave the ground on crutches.

Boss Arteta clearly had no qualms whatsoever about throwing in the talented Three Lions defender, even if England boss Gareth Southgate strangely does, as witnessed by White’s omission in the latest international squad. 

Trincao, the former Barcelona and Wolves attacker cut in, evading a weak challenge before unleashing a low curler that narrowly missed Ramsdale’s far post.

Stung, Arsenal swept up the other end with Jesus forcing visiting keeper Antonio Adan into a fine save moments later as the crowd ramped up the noise levels.

The Gunners were determined to make their home advantage count, and did so on 19 minutes.

Jorginho releasing a turbo-charged Gabi Martinelli down the line, prior to the in-form Brazil star forcing a block at the near post from Adan.

Respite was short-lived as Xhaka made no mistake when following up to sweep home for 1-0.

The joy was palpable as the Swiss international celebrated in joyous unison with colleagues and supporters alike, with an endearing nose-thumbing gesture.

And to think such an act would have brought invective cascading down the stands had the Gunners redemption man mirrored the act three seasons previously.

While the crowd erupted, the joy was tempered somewhat by the sight of William Saliba hobbling off with what could be a back complaint, to be replaced by Rob Holding, leaving 50 per cent of Arteta’s starting back line already down the tunnel with barely 20 minutes elapsed.

Jesus tested Adan who proved equal to the task by saving low down at his near post, prompting the thought that when — and it will be when — Jesus finally does score for Arsenal it will surely feel like the second coming, given the joy his Gooner disciples will feel at such a delightful prospect.

A far less delightful prospect for home fans was the thought of the visitors equalising, which Manuel Ugarte nearly succeeded in doing moments before the interval, when his fizzing low shot forced Ramsdale into pushing the ball the wrong side of the post for Lisbon hopes.

Amorim’s side came out full of vigour after the break, intent not only in achieving parity but on winning the tie.

Lisbon’s truly remarkable goal for the ages came on 62 minutes. Goncalves scored from just inside the halfway line.

The 24-year-old former Wolves midfielder, showing an impudence and an audacity on par with Nayim’s goal for Real Zaragoza against Arsenal on a long-lost Paris spring evening in 1995, along with Ronaldinho’s effort for Brazil against England in Shizuoka, Japan during the 2002 World Cup, displayed such glorious vision to lift the ball over a desperately back-pedalling Ramsdale and into the roof of the net.

Such remarkable flair, and the ability to carry out such a wondrous flash of joy sparked incredible scenes of jubilant between the player and his disbelieving colleagues and staff, not to mention to vociferous Lisbon contingent massed in the away end, who erupted in delirious celebration which included green flares being lit.

Arteta attempted to steady the ship while the crowd — and everyone watching on around the world — digested what they had just seen, with the Gunners boss bringing on Bukayo Saka and Thomas Partey for Reiss Nelson and Jorginho in a bid to win the game outright and avoid the prospect of an extra 30 minutes that no-one wanted. 

It wasn’t to be, leading to drama aplenty. 

Trossard hit the post early in extra time after Adan touched the ball onto the woodwork following the former Brighton attacker capitalising on an error at the heart of Sporting’s high line to power on.

Unfortunately for Gunners hopes, the Lisbon keeper made a fine last-ditch save to deny the Arsenal No 19.

Holding headed over the bar when emphatically meeting Saka’s corner in a crowded box as the Gunners hunted a winner.

As the clock ticked down Ugarte was sent off for a shockingly late challenge on Saka as tempers flared at the end of an enthralling clash.

Yet it was to be an aberration over the course of this hard-fought tie that was played in an excellent spirit throughout.

So it came to penalties, the first such finale in the history of this stadium, now 17 years old.

With both teams lining up by linking arms in solidarity on the halfway line, the tie was settled when Santos slotted home, following Martinelli’s miss.

The Road to Budapest is no more for Arsenal. But there remain 11 cup finals for Arteta’s valiant troops starting with Crystal Palace in north London on Sunday.

All change at the Palace

With the Eagles sacking Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira this morning, uncertainty surrounds the club ahead of this weekend’s clash after chairman Steve Parish made the change with the south Londoners failing to win a game so far in 2023.

Three members of Vieira’s coaching staff — Osian Roberts, Kristian Wilson and Said Aigoun — have also left the club, with the writing being on the wall when Palace lost their “derby” with hated rivals Brighton on Monday evening.

Palace haven’t won since a New Year’s Eve victory over Bournemouth. They even conceded with the last kick of the game against Brentford to cost them a vital victory earlier this year.

Goalscoring has been a huge issue and Vieira’s side have not found the net for the last four matches and haven’t scored twice in a game since December last year.

However, the “new manager bounce” is a strange thing to behold — see Everton’s performance against Arsenal last month a matter of days after Sean Dyche replaced Frank Lampard. 

Yet one thing is certain: both sides desperately need a victory.