Kai Havertz came off the bench to net a dramatic 91st-minute winner as Arsenal edged Sporting 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final in Lisbon.
With the tie heading for a goalless finish, Gabriel Martinelli — also introduced from the bench — cut the ball back and Havertz calmly finished to give Arsenal a precious away lead to take into next week’s second leg.
Arsenal owed much of their clean sheet to goalkeeper David Raya. Early in the match Raya spectacularly tipped Maxi Araujo’s fierce drive onto the crossbar and later kept out efforts from Geny Catamo and Luis Suarez, all of which kept the score level while Sporting pressed hard at home. Arsenal had a goal from Martin Zubimendi ruled out by VAR for an offside involving Viktor Gyokeres, and until the late breakthrough the visitors produced few clear chances, but their defence held firm to secure a classic European away win.
Player ratings (selected)
Sporting: Silva 6, Araujo 7, Inacio 6, Diomande 7, Fresneda 6, Morita 6, Simoes 6, Goncalves 6, Trincao 7, Catamo 7, Suarez 7. Subs: Braganca 6, Nel 6.
Arsenal: Raya 9, White 7, Saliba 7, Gabriel 7, Calafiori 7, Zubimendi 7, Rice 7, Odegaard 7, Madueke 7, Trossard 6, Gyokeres 6. Subs: Havertz 8, Martinelli 7, Dowman 6.
Player of the Match: David Raya
The victory offered a timely response after recent domestic cup defeats to Manchester City and Southampton, and puts Arsenal on course for back-to-back Champions League semi-finals for the first time in the club’s history.
There was also a notable milestone: 16 years and 97 days old Max Dowman became the youngest English player to appear in a Champions League knockout match, the second-youngest overall behind Bayern’s Filip Pavic.
Raya: world-class form
Havertz praised Raya after the game, telling Amazon Prime: “Unbelievable. He is still underestimated in the world of football but for me, the last two seasons, the best keeper in the world.” Manager Mikel Arteta echoed that sentiment, calling Raya “phenomenal” and “extraordinary” since joining the club.
Statistics underline Raya’s influence in Europe: since the start of last season in the Champions League he has conceded 12 goals from shots on target while the expected goals (xG) on those shots was 21.07, meaning his saves have prevented just over nine goals. The next-best figure in that period is 6.12 from Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois.
Arteta: a magic moment
Arteta told Amazon Prime he was “very happy” to win away at a difficult stadium against a team on a long home unbeaten run. He admitted Arsenal had struggled at times to break Sporting’s defensive block and lacked the final pass, but said the match was decided by a “magic moment from the finishers”: “Beautiful and that’s the impact you need when you get to this stage of the season.”
What’s next
Arsenal return to Premier League action with a trip to Bournemouth before hosting Sporting for the second leg next Wednesday. The winner of this tie will meet either Barcelona or Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals.