Kai Havertz came off the bench to score a late winner as Arsenal secured a 1-0 victory over Sporting CP in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg in Lisbon.
The decisive moment arrived deep into stoppage time when Havertz calmly finished past Rui Silva, giving Arsenal a narrow edge ahead of the return leg at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal entered the fixture looking to bounce back from consecutive defeats, and they faced an early scare when Maxi Araújo struck the crossbar after a well-worked move involving Ousmane Diomande.
Despite enjoying more possession in the first half, the visitors struggled to carve out clear opportunities, with Noni Madueke also hitting the woodwork directly from a corner.
Sporting remained a threat on the break and came close again when Araújo set up Francisco Trincão, who narrowly missed the target.
Martin Zubimendi thought he had broken the deadlock for Arsenal, but the effort was disallowed after Viktor Gyökeres was ruled offside in the buildup.
The hosts pushed forward in the closing stages, but David Raya produced important saves to keep Arsenal level.
Havertz eventually made the difference, sealing the win and ending Arsenal’s two-game losing streak under manager Mikel Arteta.
The result provides a confidence boost ahead of their upcoming Premier League fixture against Bournemouth and strengthens their push for silverware this season.
Although not at their attacking best, Arsenal showed resilience in Lisbon, offering renewed belief as they approach a crucial phase of the campaign.
However, the victory was tempered by concern over captain Martin Ødegaard, who was forced off with an apparent injury.