\n<\/p>\n
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya was the \u201cbest player on the pitch\u201d as the Gunners beat Sporting CP 1-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n
Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game in second-half injury time as Arsenal<\/strong> will now take a one-goal advantage into the second leg of their quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium.<\/p>\n Raya produced several brilliant saves to deny Sporting and keep a clean sheet, earning the Spaniard UEFA\u2019s Player of the Match in Lisbon.<\/p>\n And Sporting CP boss Rui Borges insists that Raya was \u201cthe best player on the pitch\u201d as Arsenal scraped a narrow victory in Portugal.<\/p>\n Borges told Prime Video: \u201cYes, I would say David Raya that was the best player on the pitch today because we had some really, really good chances to score but he made some superb saves.<\/p>\n \u201cOur goalkeeper Rui (Silva) wasn\u2019t overly troubled and it was a pretty equal game at the Emirates.\u201d<\/p>\n READ: <\/span>Trademark Arsenal bore us to death but win again thanks to Raya and Havertz<\/strong><\/p>\n Viktor Gyokeres made a return to the Jos\u00e9 Alvalade Stadium for the first time since his big-money move from Sporting CP to Arsenal in the summer.<\/p>\n When asked about his conversation with Gyokeres after the final whistle, Borges added: \u201cI just asked if they were okay, if his family was okay. That I was happy for him.<\/p>\n \u201cHe deserves recognition, he helped me immensely to become national champion, he gave everything while he was here, he made history at Sporting and in the Portuguese championship, and he\u2019s always welcome. He deserves to be applauded.\u201d<\/p>\n Arsenal legend Thierry Henry reckons the Gunners are \u201cthe most solid team\u201d left in the Champions League but fears that their big weakness could let them down.<\/p>\n MORE ARSENAL COVERAGE ON F365\u2026<\/strong> When asked to identify Arsenal\u2019s biggest strength and weakness ahead of the match in Lisbon, Henry said on CBS Sports<\/em>: \u201cWe know their biggest strength already, they are strong as a team and very solid.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me they are the most solid team in the Champions League. We also know about the set-pieces \u2013 people are crying about that but it\u2019s a part of the game and a big advantage for Arsenal because they\u2019re pretty good at it.<\/p>\n \u201cBut if the defence doesn\u2019t work I don\u2019t think we are creating enough at times to be able to hurt teams and that might be an issue.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking after the match, Henry added: \u201cIt\u2019s better than coming back with a 0-0 obviously!<\/p>\n \u201cThere wasn\u2019t much in the game or a lot of creativity but they did what they had to do. They won away from home, let\u2019s see what happens at the Emirates.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\n
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