Is anyone in the mood for celebrating?

If anyone had told Arsenal fans a couple of months ago that their beloved club would be in the Champions League semi-finals, they would have been delighted and thrilled. However, now that it has actually happened, it's hard to find a Gunner in the mood for celebrating.

Of course, reaching the UCL last four is always fantastic, but at the moment, the reasons for pessimism overwhelm the North London side's supporters.

Pale Arsenal, even paler Sporting: Second consecutive UCL semis for Arteta's Gunners

During the past 31 days, Arsenal looked like a shadow of themselves. They were easily brushed aside by Manchester City in the EFL Cup final, the second-tier club Southampton knocked them out of the FA Cup, and the home defeat to Bournemouth in the Premier League dealt a massive blow to their title aspirations.

Their destiny is still in their own hands, but they have to (at least) remain unbeaten in the club's most crucial clash in the last two decades - an EPL derby against Man City.

The Cityzens are at the moment a team in the best form in the entire league and enter the duel with the Gunners full of confidence. If they win, they'll soon have a chance to catch up with the rivals at the top of the EPL table, and then Arsenal won't have any room for error.

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That's why a triumph against Sporting Lisbon isn't fooling anyone in North London, especially knowing the way it was achieved - with only one goal scored in two games.

Kai Havertz's added-time winner from the first leg in Portugal turned out to be decisive, as the Gunners managed to defend that advantage with a goalless draw at Emirates Stadium last night.

Still, the fans aren't happy, as a club Arsenal want to be(come) would have smashed the - realistically speaking - inferior opponent at home as well, showing its strength. Mikel Arteta's crew exposed its weaknesses instead.

Sporting his the woodwork twice in two legs, and last night were close to shocking nearly 60,000 people at the Emirates more than once. Luck was on the Gunners' side, but will it be on Sunday?

That's why no one who loves Arsenal can be relaxed and delighted after the UCL success. The road to the European trophy, the EPL table-toppers have never won, still has two more hurdles, and no one can guarantee they'll manage to overcome them.

On the other hand, they almost had the Premier League title in the bag, leading the race throughout the whole season. Bottling it in the final stage of the campaign would be a genuine disaster. The 22-year curse seemed destined to be broken, but now, no one seems so sure about it.

Therefore, hats off to UCL success, but the fans want to see a strong, determined, and well-organized team on Sunday, as the duel against the Cityzens is Arsenal's ultimate final that could lead to either euphoria or catastrophe. Everything else is just a bonus.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - QUARTER FINALS

Return leg

Tuesday

Atl. Madrid - Barcelona 1-2 (1-2)

/Lookman 31 - Yamal 4, Torres 24/

Atletico win 3-2 on aggregate

Liverpool - PSG 0-2 (0-0)

/Dembele 72, 90+1/

PSG win 4-0 on aggregate

Wednesday

Arsenal - Sporting Lisbon 0-0

Arsenal win 1-0 on aggregate

Bayern Munich - Real Madrid 4-3 (2-3)

/Pavlovic 6, Kane 38, Diaz 89, Olise 90+4 - Guler 1, 29, Mbappe 42/

Bayern Munich win 6-4 on aggregate