David Raya

Kai Havertz declared David Raya the best goalkeeper in the world after his saves helped Arsenal secure a 1-0 win over Sporting in their Champions League quarter-final first leg in Lisbon.

Mikel Arteta discovered that playing your best goalkeeper can be a good idea as his side recovered from cup exits with late win in Lisbon There was a temptation to fixate on the moment when Arsenal won this game with a goal that could change their season. Mikel Arteta had urged his players not to panic, not to sink away with hopes of a quadruple long gone, and Kai Havertz got the memo. Gabriel Martinelli crossed from the left and, as the ball dropped, Havertz caught the Sporting defence napping at last, controlled with a feathery touch, took a breath and rolled a finish past Rui Silva to give Arsenal victory in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final. It had been a slog at Estádio José Alvalade. Arsenal attempted 488 passes and it was not until the first of two added minutes that they made one really count. Before then it was a grind. Arsenal were often constipated in open play. Although they controlled the game, at least until allowing it to become ragged during a fraught finale, there were long spells when the best the Premier League leaders offered was set-piece wrestling. Noni Madueke, mostly ineffective as he deputised for Bukayo Saka on the right wing, curled an early corner against the bar. Viktor Gyökeres was recorded as being on the pitch. Leandro Trossard tried to score from 40 yards. Leandro Trossard did not score from 40 yards.

Havertz goal offers response after back-to-back defeats Arteta praises ‘extraordinary’ Raya for crucial saves Mikel Arteta acknowledged that Arsenal had a point to prove against Sporting after losing their last two matches and believes that Kai Havertz’s late winner could prove to be a “big moment” in their season. Arsenal had David Raya to thank for making three superb saves that kept the scores level before Havertz came off the bench to seal a priceless away victory. It was a huge relief for Arteta, who had urged his players to rediscover their identity after they suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time this season against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final and Championship side Southampton in the FA Cup.

Substitute Kai Havertz struck in injury time to put Arsenal on course for the semi-finals

Raya was back in goal for Arsenal after sitting out cup defeats to Man City and Southampton

Arsenal have guaranteed the Premier League a fifth Champions League spot for next season by beating Sporting Lisbon. The Gunners snatched a dramatic 1-0 victory in Portugal on Tuesday night. Kai Ha…

Kai Havertz believes David Raya is 'underestimated in world football' after his impressive performance in Arsenal's 1-0 win over Sporting CP in the Champions League

Kai Havertz’s late goal changes the complexion of Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final first leg

KAI HAVERTZ delivered a late winner and after a rough couple of weeks, Arsenal are on their way to the Champions League semi-finals. But after getting his players balancing pens between their fingers while dribbling with the ball before the trip to Portugal, maybe Mikel Arteta needs to get his team to stick with good...

Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber have both missed Arsenal's Champions League quarter-final first leg against Sporting CP on Tuesday night.