Kai Havertz hails David Raya after decisive saves in Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Sporting

Late Havertz goal and a goalkeeper’s night in Lisbon

Arsenal’s 1-0 win away to Sporting in the Champions League quarter-final first leg was decided by a late moment of attacking composure, but shaped by goalkeeping excellence long before the winner arrived. Kai Havertz scored in the 91st minute in Lisbon, controlling a pass from fellow substitute Gabriel Martinelli and finishing calmly to give Arsenal a narrow advantage heading into the second leg.

Yet the story of the night was not only about the decisive touch in the closing stages. It was also about the work done earlier at the other end of the pitch, where David Raya produced a series of saves that kept Arsenal level and ultimately allowed the late breakthrough to matter. By the final whistle, the goalkeeper’s contribution had become a major talking point for both the scorer and the manager.

Havertz: Raya “still underestimated” and “the best”

Havertz did not hesitate when asked about Raya’s performance after the match. While the forward provided the goal that settled the contest, he was quick to point to the goalkeeper’s influence in preserving the clean sheet that underpinned the victory.

Describing Raya as “unbelievable,” Havertz went further, arguing that the Arsenal goalkeeper remains “underestimated” across the wider football landscape. In his view, Raya’s consistency over a sustained period sets him apart.

“I think he is still underestimated in the world of football, but for me, the last two seasons, the best ’keeper in the world,” Havertz said. “He’s outstanding. He has saved us so many times and we’re very glad to have him.”

Such praise was striking not only for its strength but for its timing. It came immediately after a match in which Raya’s interventions were directly linked to the result, turning a potentially damaging night into one Arsenal could celebrate.

Five saves, two standout moments, and a clean sheet preserved

Raya finished the match with five saves, but two moments stood out as defining incidents in the first leg. Early on, he tipped a fierce Maxi Araujo drive onto the crossbar, preventing Sporting from taking the lead. Later, he produced a brilliant near-post stop from Geny Catamo, another intervention that kept Arsenal’s clean sheet intact.

These were not routine saves. The first required sharp reactions and a fine touch to divert the ball onto the bar. The second demanded quick positioning and strong hands at the near post, the kind of action that can be decisive in tight Champions League ties where margins are small and chances are limited.

For Arsenal, the value of those moments grew with every minute that passed without Sporting scoring. By the time Havertz struck in the 91st minute, Raya’s earlier work had created the platform for a smash-and-grab style finish: not in the sense of Arsenal being outplayed, but in the sense that a single late goal was enough because the goalkeeper had ensured there was no damage to overturn.

Arteta: Champions League ties are “decided in the boxes”

Mikel Arteta’s post-match assessment echoed his player’s appreciation. The Arsenal manager highlighted the decisive nature of key moments at either end of the pitch, framing Raya’s saves as a classic Champions League theme.

“He had two moments where he made two big saves,” Arteta said. “And that’s the Champions League, the Champions League is always decided in the boxes because there’s so much quality.”

Arteta added that Raya has been “phenomenal” and “extraordinary” since joining Arsenal, suggesting the goalkeeper’s impact has become a consistent feature rather than an occasional highlight.

“At the moment he’s phenomenal and he has been extraordinary since he joined us. We are very lucky to have him,” Arteta said.

The manager’s comments placed Raya’s performance within a broader pattern. This was not presented as a one-off display, but as another example of a player repeatedly delivering in high-pressure situations.

Raya’s view: the early fingertip save as a turning point

Raya himself identified the early save from Araujo as a pivotal moment in the match. The chance came after a quick Sporting transition and a “superb, outside-of-the-boot” pass from Sporting centre-back Ousmane Diomande, which set up the shooting opportunity.

For Raya, the importance of the moment lay in how quickly games can swing at this level. A goal conceded early can change the rhythm, the risk profile, and the psychology of a two-legged tie.

“I think that’s a turning moment,” Raya said. “It was a quick transition from them and a great strike but I managed to get a fingertip to it to hit the bar. It’s one of those moments that can change games.”

He framed his role in broader terms than shot-stopping alone, describing a responsibility to help the team “in any single action,” including defensive organisation, command of the area, and contributions in possession.

“It’s something that I’m there for. I’m trying to help the team as much as possible in any single action, not just defending but commanding and on the ball, so, delighted with myself performance and, of course, the win,” he said.

Composure in possession and reading danger beyond the box

Beyond the highlight saves, Raya’s performance included signs of control and decision-making that modern teams increasingly demand from their goalkeepers. He completed 26 of his 28 attempted passes, reflecting a composed approach in possession during a tense away leg.

He also demonstrated an ability to anticipate danger beyond his immediate area. At one point, he headed away a long pass near the halfway line to prevent a Sporting counterattack, an action that underlined both alertness and willingness to act proactively.

Raya linked these moments to concentration and mental habits, emphasising the need to remain engaged whether the ball is coming frequently or not.

“You have to be focused no matter what you’re doing, whether you’re touching the ball or not,” he said. “That’s something I’ve worked on over the years, you learn from previous situations where your head maybe goes and you’re not ready.”

He added that he tries to stay ready throughout the game using “some tricks to keep my mind focused on the ball.” In matches where a goalkeeper may go long spells without a save, the ability to switch on instantly can be the difference between progressing and being punished.

Arteta on the changing demands of the position

In his press conference, Arteta expanded on the wider context behind Raya’s all-round contribution. He described goalkeeping as a role that has “changed and evolved rapidly” in recent years, with an expanding list of duties that go beyond traditional shot-stopping.

“That’s the evolution of the game, I think, in every role,” Arteta said. “The ’keeper in the last few years has changed and evolved rapidly, and the amount of things that he has to do, it’s a lot.”

Arteta suggested these shifting demands are not limited to goalkeepers, pointing to similar pressures across positions as tactical expectations increase. But he also made a specific point about the personal qualities that enable a player to meet those expectations.

“And when you have, apart from the qualities of David, the courage, the will to do certain things, that’s when you can reach another level,” Arteta said.

It was a description that matched what Raya displayed in Lisbon: technical ability in the big moments, and the confidence to make decisions under pressure, whether that meant playing passes, coming to meet danger, or producing a reflex save when Sporting threatened.

Context: scrutiny, selection debate, and a response on the pitch

Raya’s performance came against a backdrop in which his role has been a subject of discussion. Arteta had recently faced criticism for starting Kepa Arrizabalaga instead of Raya in the Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City, a decision that placed additional focus on Arsenal’s goalkeeping choices.

In that context, a Champions League quarter-final first leg away from home provided a high-profile stage. Raya’s response was to deliver precisely the kind of display that tends to settle arguments: a clean sheet built on key saves, plus the distribution and awareness that align with the manager’s tactical approach.

While the debate around selection decisions can be intense, nights like this offer a simple counterpoint. When a goalkeeper makes match-shaping interventions and the team wins, the performance becomes the headline.

Numbers that support the eye test in Europe

There is “plenty of competition” for the label of the world’s best goalkeeper, but Raya’s Champions League record over the last two seasons was presented as evidence of elite-level output. Since the start of last season, he has kept 13 clean sheets in 23 Champions League games, the most in that period, ahead of Yann Sommer’s 11 in 24 for Inter.

Underlying statistics also point to Raya’s shot-stopping impact. Across the same timeframe, the 30-year-old has conceded 12 goals from shots on target worth 21.07 expected goals (xG). In other words, he has prevented just over nine expected goals.

That figure was described as significantly higher than any other goalkeeper has managed in the Champions League over the last two seasons, with Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois next on the list on 6.12. While numbers never capture every aspect of goalkeeping, they can help explain why teammates and coaches speak about influence in such emphatic terms.

What Arsenal take into the second leg

Arsenal will head into next week’s second leg with a 1-0 advantage, but the first leg served as a reminder of how quickly a tie can tilt. The same “moments in the boxes” Arteta referred to will likely define the return fixture as well, and Raya’s form may again be central to how comfortable or precarious Arsenal’s position feels.

For now, Arsenal have a narrow lead and a clean sheet from an away leg, secured by a late goal and protected by a goalkeeper in outstanding form. Havertz provided the finish, Martinelli supplied the pass, and Raya delivered the saves that ensured the winner would be enough.

Key match takeaways

• Arsenal beat Sporting 1-0 in Lisbon in the Champions League quarter-final first leg, with Kai Havertz scoring in the 91st minute after controlling a pass from Gabriel Martinelli.
• David Raya made five saves, including standout stops from Maxi Araujo (tipped onto the bar) and Geny Catamo (near-post save), to preserve a clean sheet.
• Havertz called Raya the best goalkeeper in the world over the last two seasons and said he is “still underestimated.”
• Mikel Arteta praised Raya’s “extraordinary” impact and said Champions League matches are often “decided in the boxes.”
• Raya completed 26 of 28 passes and also headed away a long ball near halfway, highlighting his composure and reading of danger.
• Raya’s recent Champions League record includes 13 clean sheets in 23 games since the start of last season, plus a goals-prevented figure of just over nine based on shots-on-target xG.

With the second leg still to come, Arsenal’s immediate task is clear: protect the advantage they earned in Lisbon. If they do, the first-leg narrative will remain a familiar Champions League one—an away win built on fine margins, a late goal, and a goalkeeper who delivered when it mattered most.