Mikel Arteta’s side arrived at the Jose Alvalade Stadium rocked by successive defeats against Manchester City in the League Cup final and Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Once again, the Gunners were below their best but they emerged with the win thanks to David Raya’s fine saves and Havertz’s clinical finish in stoppage-time.
Arsenal will be firm favourites to advance to the semi-finals in the second leg in north London on April 15, but they will have to improve significantly to win the tournament for the first time.
Those agonising losses to City and second-tier Southampton marked the first time that Arsenal had been beaten in successive matches this term, with the embarrassing FA Cup defeat just the Gunners’ fifth of the season.
The after-shocks were still being felt as Arsenal struggled to find any momentum in Lisbon, but not for the first time this season they found a way to win ugly.
“We had to be a little bit crisper, faster, more efficient to break them down when they had that block,” Arteta said.
“We had a goal disallowed and there were two or three occasions where we were close but we lacked that final pass. In the end a magic moment from the finishers win us the game.
“It’s beautiful and that’s the impact you need when you get to this stage of the season. Everybody has to make an impact and they certainly did that tonight.”
Praising the outstanding Raya, Arteta added: “He had two moments where he made two big saves.
“At the moment he’s phenomenal and extraordinary since he joined us. We are very lucky to have him.”
Aiming to finally banish accusations that they are English football’s nearly men by winning their first major trophy since the 2020 FA Cup, Arsenal have faced pointed questions about their perceived lack of mental strength.
Grinding out the win in Lisbon was a suitable riposte to the critics.
Insisting his players were “hungrier than ever”, Arteta had urged Arsenal to use the “pain” of their recent defeats as motivation and they rose to the challenge.
Sitting nine points clear of second-placed Manchester City, the Premier League leaders are also on course for their first title in 22 years.
Playing in the last eight for the first time since 1983, Sporting’s 17-game winning run at home made them dangerous opponents for Arsenal. (AFP)
Edited by Cecil Wong
