The impact of a good goalkeeper can never be overemphasized, and that has been the difference between the dominant Arsenal team and the one that lost back-to-back domestic Cup games as David Raya returned between the sticks with what the Gunners have been missing.

Arsenal returned to winning ways in the Champions League as Kai Havertz's late goal secured a hard-fought first-leg away win over Sporting CP in their quarter-final clash at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon on Tuesday evening.

Mikel Arteta's team heads into the fixture on their lowest run since the start of the season, after losses to Manchester City and Southampton flipped what had been a perfect season up to that point.

The weight of those two exits, the Carabao Cup final and the FA Cup quarter-final, abruptly ended talk of a quadruple, and subsequently, the treble, making the trip Sporting CP more crucial than it should have been.

However, despite being the dominant side on the night, the Gunners needed their goalkeeper at his best, a fortune they have not had in the last two games, when Kepa was played as the man for Cup games.

David Raya's masterclass helped keep Sporting CP at bay whenever they broke away to create danger, and the Spaniard ensured Arsenal became the first visiting team to keep a clean sheet at the Jose Alvalade stadium in this season's Champions League.

David Raya: Arsenal's hero in Lisbon success

The former Brentford man had not featured for the club since the Champions League round of 16 second-leg win over Bayer Leverkusen, although he featured for around an hour for Spain against Egypt during the international break.

He was called into action very early in the game, when Ben White was caught out with a brilliant pass from Ousmane Diomande to Maxi Araujo, leaving the Uruguayan left-back with the goal at his mercy.

Raya pulled off a point-blank save, just managed to get a tip of his finger to the ball as the shot came off the upright, a relief for the Arsenal defence, especially White, who was also guilty of Southampton's opener on Saturday.

He was again called into action in the latter stages of the game, denying Geny Catamo twice and Luis Suarez from a rebound to ensure Arsenal are in the game until Kai Havertz scored the winner a couple of minutes later.

The result spelled an end to Sporting CP's 20-game unbeaten run at home in all competitions since a 2-1 loss to FC Porto in August, 19 wins, while it was also the second time they failed to score in a Champions League game this season, the first time at home.

David Raya finished the game with five huge saves (all from shots from inside the box), kept a clean sheet, and prevented 1.63 goals, leaving the host with nothing despite creating two big chances, more than Arsenal's one.

It was an absolute classy performance from the 30-year-old, who also completed 93 percent of his passes, had 42 touches, made five recoveries, and three defensive contributions.

The masterclass saw him play a vital role as Arsenal secured their first-ever away win against a Portuguese team in the knockout stage of a major European competition, after losing two and drawing four in six previous instances.

The performance also takes his clean sheet tally in 41 games across both league and Champions League this season to 22, making him the outright best in both competitions, while conceding just three goals in 10 Champions League games.

With the first-leg advantage established, Arsenal will not only kick off the return leg at home a goal up but also secure the needed confidence ahead of an important clash with Bournemouth, as they look to close in on the Premier League title on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta wanted more than just the win but for his team to remember what they are at their best and he had just that. Although it was not one of their best performances, it shows how much better they are as a team.

After failing to win back-to-back games, Mikel Arteta will be relieved by what he saw, especially in the goalkeeper department, while Arsenal fans will hope David Raya avoids any injuries and suspension, because these are the only factors that can keep him away in what remains of the season.

Manuel Neuer also re-lived the good old days

On a night where David Raya was saving Arsenal in Lisbon, Manuel Neuer was doing the same for Bayern Munich against Real Madrid in the Santiago Bernabéu as the Bavarians ended a run of nine winless against their host.

The veteran goalkeeper was called into action several times but frustrated Real Madrid attackers, especially the duo of Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappé, who couldn't help their team avoid a 2-1 defeat.

Although Bayern should have scored more, their goals, scored by Luis Diaz and Harry Kane, came off sloppy plays by Real Madrid players, which is why Neuer's interventions are even more crucial in leaving Madrid with a win.

Neuer, who committed an error leading to a late Real Madrid equalizer last time Bayern Munich visited the Bernabéu, atoned for his mistakes in a way that will very much please Vincent Kompany, but not Alvaro Arbeloa.

It is never game over, especially when Real Madrid is your opponent, but if the 40-year-old stays fit for the second leg, he will be expected to play a bigger part, and his impact on the night will always be one of his best highlights.