Sporting Lisbon 0-1 Arsenal: Premier League leaders Arsenal took a step towards a place in the last four of the Champions League with a late victory against the Portuguese giants on Tuesday night.
Kai Havertz celebrates his goal against Sporting (Image: Getty Images)
Kai Havertz’s late goal against Sporting Lisbon took Arsenal one step further into the Champions League semi-finals.
After back-to-back defeats, Mikel Arteta’s side struggled to find fluency again against a stubborn Sporting side.
Martin Zvimendi thought he had given the Gunners the lead midway through the second period, but his goal was ruled out for offside.
Havertz was the man to come forward in stoppage time and score what could have been an important win for the Gunners.
Here’s all the buzz at Jose Alvalade Stadium.
read more: Two Arsenal stars at risk of Champions League suspension ahead of game against Sportingread more: Will Arsenal’s Champions League opponents be called Sporting Lisbon or Sporting CP?
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Raya rescues Arsenal
As expected, the home side started the game with incredible speed and could have taken the lead had it not been for some spectacular acrobatics from Arsenal stopper David Raya.
A great pass from Sporting’s Diomande was caught by Maximiliano Araujo and he faced the Arsenal keeper one-on-one. He went for pure power, but Raya grabbed the ball with her fingertips at the last minute and smashed it against the crossbar.
Raya also produced an excellent stop to evade Jenny Katamo’s late header in an impressive performance.
Gokeres’ return ends in failure.
Don’t get me wrong. Victor Goqueres is a hero of Lisbon. His record of 97 goals in 102 games for the Portuguese giants is proof of that.
Some people were still dissatisfied with the way he left the team in the summer, but they didn’t show their dissatisfaction and all the booing subsided.
Unfortunately for Gokeres, his return was equally underwhelming. He really struggled to get into the game throughout the night and was even responsible for Arsenal’s opener being canceled out for a choke.
Victor Goqueres had a difficult night back at Sporting Lisbon (Image: Getty Images)
Controversy against Arsenal
Perhaps the most frustrating element of Gokeres’ performance was his contribution to Arsenal’s canceled goal. The ball hit the Swedish forward and he returned it.
Then Martin Zvimendi scored a divine right-footed shot. However, the referee immediately intervened and canceled the goal, which was the right decision.
Gunner overcomes frustration
Mikel Arteta has reason to be concerned against the backdrop of Arsenal’s current slump. Arsenal lost in the Carabao Cup final and were eliminated from the FA Cup by the Championship team.
Of course Arsenal have one goal this season – the Premier League – but there is no getting away from the fact that it has been a damaging week.
But they were still trying to find a way past Sporting. It’s a cliché, but this is the kind of result that could get their season back on track.
Martin Zvimendi was rightly denied a goal against Sporting (Image: Getty Images)
Havertz steals
While the win was welcome, Sporting have been no slouches this season. The Portuguese giants have not lost at home in the Champions League this season, defeating reigning champions PSG.
That was until Havertz came forward in the closing stages. He was expertly picked out by Gabriel Martinelli, took the touch and produced a clinical finish. This was his fourth goal of the season.
That wasn’t to be expected given the Gunners’ performance in Lisbon, but not a single player in the Arsenal dressing room cared.
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