Sporting Boss Rui Borges Names David Raya ‘Best Player’ as Henry Warns of Arsenal’s Creative Void

Sporting manager Rui Borges names David Raya "best player" after Arsenal's 1-0 win, while Thierry Henry identifies a major weakness in the Gunners' attack.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 8, 2026, 8:17 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Football365 and CBS Sports.

The Wall in Lisbon: David Raya’s Masterclass

Arsenal’s narrow escape at the Estádio José Alvalade was largely credited to a standout performance by David Raya. The Spaniard’s series of reactive saves earned him the official UEFA Player of the Match award and drew high praise from the opposition dugout. Sporting CP manager Rui Borges conceded that while his side created "really, really good chances," they were systematically denied by Raya’s "superb" interventions. Borges noted that while Arsenal’s attack was largely contained, Raya’s presence transformed what could have been a Sporting victory into a narrow deficit for the Portuguese champions.

A Bittersweet Homecoming for Viktor Gyökeres

The match also featured a highly anticipated return for Viktor Gyökeres, who left Sporting for Arsenal in a blockbuster summer move. Despite a relatively quiet night on the scoresheet—partially due to a VAR decision that ruled out a Martin Zubimendi goal for an offside in the build-up—Gyökeres was warmly received by his former manager. Borges revealed that he spoke with the striker after the whistle to offer his congratulations, stating that Gyökeres "deserves recognition" for his history-making tenure in Lisbon and will "always be welcome" at the club he helped lead to a national title.

Henry’s Double-Edged Appraisal

Watching from the CBS Sports studio, Thierry Henry offered a sobering analysis of his former club's current tactical state. Henry labeled the Gunners "the most solid team" remaining in the Champions League, praising their defensive unity and their lethal efficiency at set-pieces. However, the Frenchman balanced this praise with a stark warning: if Arsenal’s defense falters, the team is currently not "creating enough" from open play to recover. Henry observed that while a 1-0 away win is superior to a stalemate, the lack of sustained creativity in Lisbon remains a "big problem" that Mikel Arteta must address.