Kai Havertz emerged as the decisive figure for Arsenal after netting a dramatic stoppage-time goal to secure a 1-0 victory against Sporting Lisbon in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash.
The crucial encounter took place at the José Alvalade Stadium, giving the London side a valuable advantage heading into the return leg, reports alldasyport.net
The German international struck in the second minute of added time, sealing an important away win and putting Arsenal in a strong position for progression. Despite the triumph, Havertz made it clear that the tie is far from over.
Speaking after the match, he reflected on the decisive moment and the assist provided by Gabriel Martinelli:
“Scoring a late goal is always a great feeling, especially in front of our fans. We’ve got the result we needed, but there’s still a lot of work ahead of us next week.”
He also highlighted Martinelli’s contribution:
“A classy piece of play; this lad has immense quality. As a striker or attacking midfielder, you’re always waiting for moments like this, and he executed it perfectly, so the credit goes to Martinelli.”
Match Analysis and Team Performance
Havertz described the game as competitive but felt Arsenal maintained control for much of the contest:
“It was an open game, but I think we controlled it well for the most part. Football is decided by moments like this. Overall, we played a very good game and we can be proud of ourselves. Now we’ll rest up and be back again on Saturday.”
The victory also marked a strong response after a recent dip in form, with Arsenal coming into the match on the back of consecutive defeats.
“It’s definitely a big turnaround for us because we lost our last two matches, so we wanted to change that run today and we succeeded. We’re united as a group, and we still have a lot to offer this season. There are seven weeks left; we can win major trophies and we’ll fight for them.”
Praise for David Raya
Havertz didn’t hold back when speaking about Arsenal’s goalkeeper, David Raya, crediting him as a key figure behind the team’s success:
“He’s incredible. I think he’s still underrated in the world of football, but for me, he’s been the best goalkeeper in the world over the past two seasons. He’s amazing; he’s saved us so many times and we’re absolutely delighted to have him with us.”
What’s Next?
With a narrow but crucial away win secured, Arsenal now shift focus to the second leg in London, where they will aim to finish the job and book their place in the Champions League semi-finals./ALLDAYSPORT/
