After losing to Southampton in the FA Cup at the weekend, in what was their first fixture after the Carabao Cup final defeat against Man City, it was imperative for Mikel Arteta that the Gunners turned the tide in the best possible way at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Sporting had only lost once in 16 games
Certainly, the North Londoners headed into the match with more big game experience in this competition, as this was Sporting's first UCL/European Cup quarter-final since the 1982/83 season.
Rui Borges' side weren't to be underestimated, mind, as they'd already defeated reigning UCL champions Paris Saint-Germain in a run of 16 competitive matches with only one defeat (W13, D2).
That run also included nine consecutive wins at home in all competitions, one of which saw an epic Round of 16 second-leg comeback against Bodo/Glimt, which should've also served as a warning to a Gunners side that had won nine of their 10 UCL ties in 2025/26.
Although Gabriel made the starting line-up for the visitors, they were dealt a blow after Bukayo Saka was ruled out after a late fitness test.
A cagey start from Arsenal
A cagey start from Arsenal probably wasn't a surprise, and they were indebted to David Raya for tipping Maxi Araujo's fierce early goal-bound effort onto the crossbar.
It would take 10 minutes for the Gunners to get near Sporting's penalty box, and even then, former Sporting ace Viktor Gyokeres was easily manhandled away from goal.
Noni Madueke's attempt at an Olympic goal from Arsenal's first corner of the game also hit the woodwork, as the North Londoners eased themselves into the game.
63% collective possession in the first quarter hour evidenced how comfortably Arteta's players were on the ball, in what was a white-hot atmosphere, but they had little to show for it at that stage.
No luck in front of goal for Suarez
Though they'd had the ball much less than their opponents, Sporting were comfortable and confident when in control, and six of their starters had completed 100% of their passes by the 20-minute mark.
However, they'd not managed to get their danger man Luis Suarez into the game at all, and after half an hour had been played, the striker still hadn't had a touch in Arsenal's box.
By contrast, Madueke was tormenting the Sporting back line and had won five of his six duels attempted.
With William Saliba winning two of his three one-on-ones and completing 34 of his 35 passes in an epic first-half showing, the Portuguese side wasn't getting any change out of the Premier League champions-elect.
Sporting unable to build from the back
It didn't help the hosts that Goncalo Inacio lost possession on 11 separate occasions in the first half, stopping Sporting from being able to build from the back.
The early stages of the second half again turned into an exercise of retaining the ball as much as possible, and control of the game as a result.
Martin Odegaard's floated free-kick - pushed over by Rui Silva - was about as good as it got for Arsenal, who almost conceded from the resulting corner, before David Raya raced from goal to clear from near the halfway line.
Gyokeres began to put himself about against his old teammates, and three touches in Sporting's box was more than any of his colleagues had managed with 20 minutes to play.
Declan Rice's man-of-the-match performance
One of those looked to have assisted Martin Zubimendi, who fired a delicious long-range curling shot home, before it was ruled out because of the Swede's offside position.
Declan Rice was doing more than most to affect the final outcome of the game, and on 13 separate occasions he won back possession, not only evidencing his worth to his team but it was also at least 10 more occasions than any of his colleagues.
For Sporting, Maxi Araujo had been the busiest player on the pitch, conceding seven fouls but winning five of his six tackles - the most of any player from either side - and contesting 23 one-on-one duels.
A flurry of substitutions from either side didn't look like it was going to alter the scoreline, with both teams seemingly content on playing out a goalless draw.
Havertz wins it at the death
Step forward Kai Havertz, who had only had 10 touches of the ball after his introduction in the 70th minute.
One of those saw him fire past Silva in injury time to ensure Arsenal could celebrate having won a first European knockout game in Portugal after seven attempts (D4, L2).
Sporting will be left rueing the fact that they couldn't make their attacking dominance count when they had the chance.
Not many teams have got the better of Arsenal this season in terms of total shots, shots on target, big chances created, and tackles won, and after being hammered by them 5-1 at home last season, such a slender loss represents an improvement for Sporting, but also a huge opportunity missed.
It means the Portuguese giants still haven't beaten Arsenal in eight attempts (D4, L4), and it'll take a big upset at the Emirates Stadium for them to end that run.
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