Arsenal beat Sporting Lisbon 1-0 as Kai Havertz scores a stoppage-time winner in the Champions League quarter-final first leg

Arsenal FC secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Sporting CP at the Estádio José Alvalade on Tuesday night, with Kai Havertz striking in stoppage time to hand Mikel Arteta’s side a crucial Champions League quarter-final first-leg win.

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The breakthrough came after a tense and tightly contested encounter in which Arsenal struggled for rhythm for long periods but remained resilient under sustained pressure from the Portuguese hosts.

Sporting CP created several early chances, forcing goalkeeper David Raya into key saves, including a powerful effort that was tipped onto the crossbar in the first half.

Arsenal, meanwhile, found it difficult to impose themselves in attack, with limited opportunities and a lack of fluency in the final third despite flashes of intent from captain Martin Ødegaard.

The match remained finely balanced until late in the second half, when Sporting threatened to break the deadlock but failed to convert their chances.

The decisive moment arrived deep into stoppage time, when Gabriel Martinelli delivered a precise pass over the defence, allowing Havertz to beat the offside trap and calmly slot home from close range.

The result offers Arsenal a valuable advantage heading into the second leg in London, despite a performance that highlighted ongoing concerns over consistency and attacking sharpness.

Manager Mikel Arteta will, however, take encouragement from his side’s resilience and ability to secure a result even while below their best.

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The Arsenal beat Sporting Lisbon outcome leaves the tie finely poised, with the Gunners now firm favourites to progress if they can improve their performance at home.