Arsenal scores last-gasp Champions League win vs Sporting: Highlights

Arsenal substitute Kai Havertz scored a stoppage-time goal to snatch a 1-0 win at Sporting in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday, April 7.

The Germany forward was found unmarked inside the box by Gabriel Martinelli before calmly slotting the ball past goalkeeper Rui Silva to settle the match

After a first half in which Sporting's Maxi Araujo and Arsenal's Noni Madueke struck the woodwork, the visitors had a Martin Zubimendi effort disallowed before David Raya produced several late saves to deny the home side.

The deadlock was finally broken in added time by Havertz, who replaced the injured Martin Odegaard in the 70th minute, to secure the advantage before the return leg next Wednesday.

– Reuters

Here's how the match unfolded:

Kai Havertz goal! 91st minute score gives Arsenal 1-0 lead

Arsenal found the breakthrough in stoppage time with Kai Havertz calmly finishing off an assist from Gabriel Martinelli, delivering the winner for Arsenal.

Arsenal goal ruled out

Martin Zubimendi looked to have scored a spectacular goal from outside the penalty area in the 63rd minute, but Viktor Gyökeres was ruled to have been clearly offside in the buildup, erasing the Arsenal.

60th minute: Arsenal 0, Sporting 0

Arsenal has looked timid in attack through 15 minutes in the second half, with Martin Odegaard opting for more horizontal passing and the Sporting press has forced Arsenal possessions back to the goalkeeper on multiple occasions.

HALFTIME: Arsenal 0, Sporting 0

A scoreless first half in Lisbon, pretty evenly matched overall. Sporting had a couple of clear chances in the first 10 minutes including a shot crashing off the bar, but Arsenal settled into the game and – surprise, surprise – looked dangerous on set pieces.

Arsenal vs Sporting underway in Lisbon

Sporting have come close to scoring twice in the opening 10 minutes, with Maxi Araújo hitting the crossbar and then narrowly missing the target with a speculative long-range effort.

Arsenal lineup vs Sporting

Declan Rice returns to the squad after questions surrounding his fitness during the international break, while Gabriel is back in the lineup after being forced off by injury in Arsenal's 2-1 FA Cup defeat to Southampton on Saturday.

Sporting lineup vs Arsenal

Can Arsenal bounce back vs. Sporting?

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said the pain of back‑to‑back cup defeats must be used as motivation as his team turn their focus to the first leg against Sporting.

The London club arrived in Lisbon on the heels of their first back-to-back losses this season, a 2-0 defeat by Manchester City in the League Cup final and a 2-1 upset by Championship side Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

"We have to have some perspective on how difficult what we have done up until now has been," Arteta told reporters on Monday. "Feel the pain, use it to improve.

"We are very clear what happened and why it happened. This is football."

– Reuters

Sporting doesn't fear Arsenal

Arsenal face a Sporting side unbeaten at home in Europe this season, with the Portuguese champions looking to seize the initiative in the two-legged tie. Sporting midfielder Maxi Araujo shrugged off suggestions Arsenal are favorites on Tuesday.

"There are no favorites in this play-off," he told reporters. "They are playing well, we are too."

Sporting manager Rui Borges said the fact Arsenal have lost successive games means little.

"No, I don't believe in that and great teams always want to win," Borges told reporters. "They will be more focused, willing to show their collective individual capacity and so I think it will make it more difficult for us."

Arsenal vs Sporting CP prediction, pick

Arsenal's unbeaten record against Sporting and Champions League consistency gives them the edge, though Sporting's home form and recent goalscoring run make this a close call.

Prediction: Sporting CP 1, Arsenal 2

How to watch Arsenal vs Sporting Champions League on Paramount

• When: Tuesday, April 7
• Where: Estádio José Alvalade (Lisbon, Portugal)
• Time: 3 p.m. ET
• Channel/streaming: Paramount+ (WATCH HERE), ViX (Watch on Prime Video)