The last-eight rubber looked to be heading for a goalless draw before substitute Havertz latched on to Gabriel Martinelli’s ball to deliver a fine finish in the first minute of added time to put Arsenal in control of the contest ahead of next week’s return match at the Emirates.

Arsenal had David Raya to thank for keeping them alive with a wonderful early save to deny Maxi Araujo. Raya also produced a fine double stop late in the contest to keep Arsenal on level terms before Havertz struck.

Mikel Arteta’s side headed into Tuesday’s encounter following consecutive defeats for the first time this season, which have reduced their trophy aspirations from four to two.

But this was the perfect tonic for the Gunners as they bid to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League for the second season in a row for the first time in their history, and a timely boost ahead of their Premier League home match against Bournemouth on Saturday.

Arsenal were facing a Sporting side who had won their last 16 matches at home – including all five in the Champions League so far – and their Portuguese hosts came racing out the traps.

Raya – who was benched by Arteta for both of Arsenal’s recent cup defeats – proved just why that was the wrong decision when he produced a brilliant diving save with his right glove to tip Araujo’s thunderous drive from Ousmane Diomande’s stunning defence-splitting pass on to the crossbar after six minutes. A world-class intervention from a player at the very top of his game.

At the other end, Noni Madueke’s in-swinging corner struck the Sporting woodwork, with Martin Odegaard spraying his follow-up wide. Arsenal did well to weather the early storm but they failed to pose a significant threat on Rui Silva’s goal.

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The Sporting goalkeeper was called into action just once during the opening period when he comfortably saved Odegaard’s strike from range with three minutes left. On his return to the club where he scored 97 times in 102 appearances, Viktor Gyokeres ended the first half with just nine touches. Arteta will have demanded more intensity from his players at the interval.

Odegaard’s curling free-kick was palmed over by Silva, but Sporting were beginning to look menacing, and as the hour mark approached, Francisco Trincao dragged his effort wide when he might have done better.

Martin Zubimendi then thought he had opened the scoring after 63 minutes but his neat effort from the edge of the area was chalked off by VAR with Gyokeres offside in the build-up.

Arteta might have expected his players to use the disallowed goal as a springboard to further assaults on Silva’s goal but that failed to materialise.

And it was Raya who was needed again at the other end as he pounced on Geny Catamo’s near-post header with another fine stop to save his side again.

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Substitute Martinelli tested Silva with a long-range strike but the Sporting goalkeeper was equal to the Brazilian’s effort. Catamo called Raya into action again with four minutes remaining before the Spaniard denied Luis Suarez’s follow-up.

That looked to be that before substitute Martinelli popped up in the channel before finding an unmarked Havertz who could not miss to hand Arteta and Arsenal a much-needed win.