Bent Demands Arteta Shelves Kepa for Final Stretch as Arsenal Edge Past Sporting

Arsenal have emerged from a testing spell to secure a narrow first-leg advantage against Sporting CP in their Champions League quarter-final clash, courtesy of Kai Havertz's solitary goal on Tuesday evening.

The result comes as welcome relief after the Gunners endured consecutive setbacks—a Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City followed by a shock 2-1 FA Cup exit at the hands of Championship outfit Southampton. Raya reclaimed his starting berth for the Portuguese tie after Kepa had featured in those previous two disappointing outings.

Former Spurs frontman and Arsenal aficionado Darren Bent has seized on the goalkeeper switch to make an emphatic statement: Kepa must not don the gloves again before the campaign's conclusion.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Bent aired frustrations with several Arsenal performers whilst delivering his unambiguous verdict on the goalkeeper situation. "Stop playing Kepa," he declared. "I know it's not necessarily his fault, but I don't want to see Kepa again this season. As a back-up, perfect. David Raya, between now and the end of the season, has to play every single minute."

Bent's critique extended beyond the goalkeeping ranks, highlighting nervy displays from Cristhian Mosquera and Gabriel Magalhaes, whilst suggesting Gabriel Jesus remains a persistent problem rather than a solution. He reserved praise only for academy prospect Max Dowman, whose contribution caught the eye.

"Even if Arsenal destroy Sporting in the Champions League next week, I need David Raya in goal," Bent continued. "Play him from now in every game until the end of the season. I understand he's trying to play bodies but these players are letting him down."

Arteta himself reflected positively on the hard-fought victory, emphasising the importance of the occasion and the response required after recent disappointments. He acknowledged Arsenal's dominance in possession and positioning whilst conceding they lacked the cutting edge required to create sufficient clear-cut opportunities.

"We had moments of real dominance with a lot of situations in and around the box without creating enough threat sometimes," the Arsenal boss explained. "Lacking to be a bit crispier, the movement a bit sharper, the final ball."

The manager praised Raya's decisive interventions when Sporting threatened on the counter-attack, noting the Portuguese side's formidable record of 17 consecutive victories at their ground before this contest.

"We knew as well that it's a team extremely dangerous when they have space to run and they have two situations where David had to intervene in a brilliant way," Arteta noted. "And then, again, the story of the season, the finish is coming when the most important part of the game is about to happen and then make the difference for us to go and win it."

The second leg awaits at the Emirates Stadium next week.