Arsenal don win big for Lisbon o! Kai Havertz come score one late goal for 91st minute make Arsenal carry 1-0 win go home for Champions League quarter-final first leg. The match dey tough die, but two substitutes wey Mikel Arteta bring from bench change everything. Gabriel Martinelli wey dey run from left side pass ball give Havertz, and the German man just collect am with fine touch before he slot am inside net.
Before that goal, the match dey like say nobody wan win am. Arsenal and Sporting CP just dey play safe, no plenty risk. Even the fans for Estádio José Alvalade dey wonder wetin dey happen for Champions League quarter-final. But na so football be sometimes – one moment of quality fit change everything.
David Raya na the real hero for Arsenal side. The goalkeeper make one big save early for first half when Maximiliano Araújo shoot ball wey almost enter net. Raya just use him fingertip push am touch bar. If that ball enter, the story for today for different. Later for second half, Raya still save Arsenal again when Geny Catamo try to score.
Mikel Arteta talk say him team need to show themselves today. “We had to reveal ourselves today,” the manager yarn. “It’s half-time, we are a step closer and now we need to finish the tie in front of our own people.”
Sporting CP don dey win all their home matches for Champions League this season. Dem even beat Paris Saint-Germain for this same stadium. But Arsenal break their record today. The Portuguese team try wella, but dem no fit find way pass Arsenal defense wey Declan Rice dey control from midfield.
Martin Ødegaard return to Arsenal midfield today after injury, and him presence dey help the team control the game. But when Arteta substitute am for 70th minute, Sporting begin get small chance. That one no stop Arsenal from winning.
Viktor Gyökeres return to Lisbon where him score 97 goals for Sporting before him join Arsenal. The Swedish striker no get plenty chance today, but him movement help create space for Havertz goal. Earlier for match, Martin Zubimendi think say him don score beautiful goal, but VAR show say Gyökeres dey offside.
Noni Madueke dey trouble Sporting left-back Araújo plenty for right wing. The Uruguayan defender commit seven fouls but referee Daniel Siebert no give am yellow card. Madueke come out for 76th minute when 16-year-old Max Dowman enter.
Arteta talk about Raya performance: “Unbelievable, [Raya is] still underestimated in the world of football but for me he is the best keeper in the world. He saved us so many times this season and we are very glad to have him.”
The Arsenal manager also praise Havertz for loving big occasions. “Kai loves the big occasion, the big games and that is what we need, the big players to turn up when we need them to win us the game.”
Sporting coach Rui Borges must dey vex wella. Him team almost carry draw from match wey dem control well for some periods. But na so football be – sometimes you play well but one mistake or one moment of quality go punish you.
Arsenal now get advantage for this tie. Dem go host Sporting for Emirates Stadium next week for second leg. If dem manage draw or win again, dem go qualify for Champions League semi-final. After two cup losses to Manchester City and Southampton, this win don change Arsenal mood completely.
Arteta talk say the team get seven weeks to go and dem fit win big titles. “We stick together as a group, we have seven weeks to go and we can win big titles. That’s what we’re going to go for.”
For now, Arsenal fans dey celebrate this important away win. The journey continue next week for London where everything go decide.
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