Mikel Arteta demanded "fire" from his Arsenal side, but the performance that secured their Champions League semi-final berth was anything but blazing. A sluggish, goalless draw with Sporting at the Emirates, coupled with Kai Havertz's first-leg winner, was just enough to see the Gunners through—a result that prioritizes pragmatism over panache.

While the manager was quick to praise his squad's historic achievement—reaching back-to-back semi-finals for the first time in the club's 140-year history—the underlying numbers are concerning. Arsenal have now won just once in their last five matches across all competitions, scoring a mere three goals in that stretch. The free-flowing, attacking football that defined their early-season form has noticeably stalled.

This raises a critical question as the season reaches its climax: does style matter, or is simply "getting the job done" enough? For Arteta and a squad desperate to lift a major trophy, the answer is likely the latter. The ultimate prize often requires grinding out results, especially amidst an injury crisis that has sidelined key figures like Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, and new signing Riccardo Calafiori.

The physical toll is undeniable. Arteta himself acknowledged the strain, pointing to the immense effort required to be the last English team standing in Europe. A fresh concern emerged as winger Noni Madueke limped off, casting a shadow over a massive top-of-the-table Premier League clash with Manchester City this Sunday.

As former defender Nedum Onuoha noted, simply being in a second consecutive semi-final is a monumental feat. The challenge now is to rediscover that missing spark. Can Arsenal marry their resilient, results-driven approach with the thrilling style that captured imaginations earlier this season? How they answer that will define their pursuit of silverware.