Arsenal hold a 1-0 lead over Sporting ahead of the Champions League quarter-final second leg (Picture: Getty)Mikel Arteta heaped praise on ‘finishers’ Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz for coming on and conjuring up the ‘magic’ moment to steer Arsenal to victory over Sporting. The two teams had looked to be heading for a stalemate in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg, with Martin Zubimendi having a goal disallowed by VAR for offside in the second half. ‘He had two moments where he made two big saves,’ the Arsenal boss said of his fellow countryman. ‘That’s the Champions League, the Champions League is always decided in the boxes and because there’s so much quality here. Arrow MORE: Jamie Carragher makes worrying Arsenal title claim after Champions League winArrow MORE: Mikel Arteta told Arsenal are ‘not at the level’ of two Champions League rivalsArrow MORE: Darren Bent tells Mikel Arteta to drop Arsenal star: ‘I don’t want to see him again this season’

Source: Metro April 08, 2026 08:15 UTC