{"id":5981,"date":"2026-04-08T01:22:43","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T01:22:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=5981"},"modified":"2026-04-08T01:22:43","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T01:22:43","slug":"sporting-manager-claims-arsenal-star-was-the-best-player-on-the-pitch-after-champions-league-defeat-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=5981","title":{"rendered":"Sporting manager claims Arsenal star ‘was the best player on the pitch’ after Champions League defeat | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\t\t\"LISBON,\t<\/div>
Rui Borges hailed David Raya after Sporting CP\u2019s defeat to Arsenal (UEFA via Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sporting CP head coach Rui Borges hailed David Raya as \u2018the best player on the pitch\u2019 after his side\u2019s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Champions League on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n

Kai Havertz\u2019s goal in injury time sealed a late victory for Mikel Arteta\u2019s side in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.<\/p>\n

But the Gunners needed an excellent performance from Raya to keep a clean sheet as the Spaniard made several fine saves to keep Sporting at bay.<\/p>\n

Raya was named UEFA\u2019s Player of the Match for his display and Borges agrees that the Arsenal goalkeeper was the game\u2019s standout star.<\/p>\n

\u2018Yes, 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,\u2019 Borges told Prime Video.<\/p>\n

\u2018Our goalkeeper Rui [Silva] wasn\u2019t overly troubled and it was a pretty equal game at the Emirates.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"LISBON,\t<\/div>
David Raya was named UEFA\u2019s Player Of The Match in Arsenal\u2019s 1-0 win against Sporting CP (UEFA via Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Meanwhile, Viktor Gyokeres was given a warm ovation by Sporting\u2019s fans following the first game against his former club since his \u00a364.8m move to Arsenal last summer.<\/p>\n

Asked about his interaction with Gyokeres after the final whistle, Borges said: \u2018I just asked if they were okay, if his family was okay. That I was happy for him.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Arsenal's\t<\/div>
Viktor Gyokeres was applauded off the pitch by Sporting CP suporters (PA)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018He 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.\u2019<\/p>\n

Sporting\u2019s 21-year-old forward Rafael Nel also paid tribute to Gyokeres after the match.<\/p>\n

\u2018Gyokeres\u00a0said a few words. He was happy for me and I\u2019m happy for him,\u2019 Nel said.<\/p>\n

\u2018He\u2019s an idol to me, I\u2019ll see him next week and we\u2019ll play the game with everything we\u2019ve got. We have nothing to fear, the team is confident and we\u2019ll play well there.\u2019<\/p>\n

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