Kai Havertz scored a stoppage-time winner to give Arsenal a valuable 1-0 victory over Sporting Lisbon in the first leg of their 2026 Champions League quarter-final.
Mikel Arteta’s side came into Tuesday’s match after suffering back-to-back defeats for the first time this season, reducing their trophy hopes from four to two.
Arsenal owe a huge debt of gratitude to goalkeeper David Raya, who kept the team in the game with a stunning early save to deny Maxi Araujo. Raya also made a brilliant double save late in the match to keep the score level before Havertz’s decisive goal.
The first leg of the quarter-final was heading for a goalless draw before substitute Kai Havertz pounced on a perfectly weighted pass from Gabriel Martinelli, finishing superbly into the net in the first minute of stoppage time to give Arsenal the advantage ahead of next week’s return leg at the Emirates Stadium.
Now, Arsenal are one step away from reaching the Champions League semi-finals for the second consecutive season for the first time in the club’s history.
This victory provides a timely morale boost ahead of their home game against Bournemouth in the Premier League next Saturday, where the Gunners sit nine points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table.
