{"id":3582,"date":"2026-04-08T09:23:44","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T09:23:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/?p=3582"},"modified":"2026-04-08T09:23:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T09:23:44","slug":"player-ratings-as-gunners-put-one-foot-in-semi-final","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/?p=3582","title":{"rendered":"Player ratings as Gunners put one foot in semi-final"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Arsenal have put one foot in the semi-finals of the Champions League after Kai Havertz scored a 91st minute winner in a 1-0 first leg victory away to Sporting.<\/p>\n

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As his side looked to put their FA Cup exit at the hands of Southampton behind them, Mikel Arteta reverted to full strength for the trip to Lisbon. Noni Madueke and Viktor Gy\u00f6keres were among those to come into the XI while Declan Rice was also named to make his return from injury.<\/p>\n

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It was almost a disastrous start for the Gunners when Maxi Ara\u00fajo broke in down the left side and fired a thumping effort toward goal, but David Raya reacted swiftly to get a fingertip to the ball and turn it onto the crossbar.<\/p>\n

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Madueke went close to putting his side in front in bizarre fashion. The winger swung a corner into the box and it curled all the way toward goal to hit the bar and bounce away from danger.<\/p>\n

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Sporting continued to trouble from there and made life difficult for Arsenal, allowing them to have just one shot on target before the break. Despite their positive performance, the hosts couldn’t capitalise, meaning it was deadlocked at the halfway point.<\/p>\n

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We remain level at the break.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s step things up, Gunners \ud83d\udc4a pic.twitter.com\/Lt4DKGhWBM<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 7, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

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Having survived a frustrating first-half, the Gunners grew into the game and thought they had taken the lead on the hour mark, but were denied by VAR. Mart\u00edn Zubimendi curled a sublime strike into the corner, but Gy\u00f6keres was deemed to have strayed offside in the build-up.<\/p>\n

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It was relatively uneventful from there and it looked like the game would be ending goalless until stoppage time drama changed that. Substitute Gabriel Martinelli worked his way inside and clipped a ball over the top for Kai Havertz to bring down and slot it away.<\/p>\n

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The Germany international’s finish secured a crucial first leg win for Arsenal and it means they will be taking an advantage into next week’s decider.<\/p>\n

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Here are the Arsenal player ratings from their 1-0 win over Sporting.<\/p>\n

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Sporting 0-1 Arsenal player ratings<\/h2>\n

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\"FBL-EUR-C1-SPORTING-ARSENAL\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n

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Bright between the sticks | PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA\/GettyImages<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

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Goalkeeper & Defenders<\/h3>\n

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David Raya (GK) – 7.5\/10 – <\/strong>Reacted brilliantly to get a fingertip to Ara\u00fajo’s thumping effort early on. Stood firm throughout Sporting’s spells of pressure to keep a clean sheet.<\/p>\n

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Ben White (RB) – 7\/10 – <\/strong>Thought he grabbed an assist when he played the ball to Zubimendi for a stunning strike, but it was ruled out by VAR. Steady on the right side of defence.<\/p>\n

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William Saliba (CB) – 7\/10 – <\/strong>Comfortable at the back despite Sporting’s heavy dominance throughout the tie.<\/p>\n

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Gabriel Magalhaes (CB) – 7\/10 – <\/strong>Like his defensive partner, relative comfort for him in defence. Couldn’t trouble from set pieces as usual though.<\/p>\n

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Riccardo Calafiori (LB) – 7\/10 – <\/strong>Solid on the left side of defence and looked to get up and help out in attack when possible.<\/p>\n

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Midfielders<\/h3>\n

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Martin \u00d8degaard (CM) – 7\/10 – <\/strong>Looked good on the ball and tried to help his side out in attack, but struggled to find clinical passes at times. Withdrawn with 20 minutes to play.<\/p>\n

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Mart\u00edn Zubimendi (CM) – 7\/10 – <\/strong>Thought he had put his side in front with a sublime curling effort, but was denied by VAR due to an earlier offside. Solid otherwise.<\/p>\n

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Declan Rice (CM) – 7\/10 – <\/strong>Good performance on his return from injury as he played some good balls and caused problems with his set piece deliveries.<\/p>\n

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Forwards<\/h3>\n

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Noni Madueke (RW) – 6.5\/10 – <\/strong>Struck the crossbar with an inswinging corner. Caused some problems down the right flank, but struggled to impact the game too much and was subbed off late on.<\/p>\n

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Viktor Gy\u00f6keres (ST) – 6.5\/10 – <\/strong>Strayed offside in the build-up to Zubimendi’s disallowed strike, prompting the goal to be ruled out by VAR.<\/p>\n

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Leandro Trossard (LW) – 6\/10 – <\/strong>Had a crack at goal when he could, but didn’t trouble Silva. Taken off with 15 minutes to play.<\/p>\n

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Substitutes<\/h3>\n

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  • Kai Havertz (on 70′ for \u00d8degaard) – 7.5\/10<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • Gabriel Martinelli (on 76′ for Trossard) – 7.5\/10<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • Max Dowman (on 76′ for Madueke) – 6.5\/10<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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    Arsenal player of the match: David Raya<\/h3>\n

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