In a thrilling encounter at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal secured their spot in the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in 14 years after a nail-biting penalty shootout victory against Porto. The match ended 1-0 in favor of Arsenal on the night, leveling the last-16 tie at 1-1 on aggregate.
The hero of the night was goalkeeper David Raya, who made crucial saves during the penalty shootout, including a spectacular stop against Wendell’s spot-kick, tipping it onto the post. Raya also denied Porto’s first-leg match-winner, Galeno, showcasing a memorable performance.
Arsenal’s goal came just before half-time in normal time when Leandro Trossard found the back of the net with a brilliant finish, assisted by Martin Odegaard. However, Odegaard had a goal disallowed earlier due to a foul by Kai Havertz on Pepe.
The dramatic penalty shootout saw Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, and Declan Rice all converting from the spot, securing a 4-2 victory for Arsenal. The win ended Arsenal’s streak of seven consecutive exits in the last-16 stage of the Champions League.
David Raya, reflecting on the historic night, said, “It’s a great feeling, especially for me personally, my first time in the Champions League and the first time in a long time the club has got to the quarter-finals. We’ve been working a lot on penalties this year, and the hard work has paid off.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised the fans for their support, stating, “For 96 minutes bring your energy, bring your noise and let’s do it together. I think the impact they [the supporters] can make tomorrow is incredible. We need that noise and we need them playing every single ball with us.”
The Gunners now eagerly await the quarter-final draw, marking a significant achievement for the club in their return to the Champions League after a six-year absence.
In the lead-up to the match, there were concerns for Arsenal as they faced a 1-0 first-leg deficit against Porto. Galeno’s stunning strike in added time during the previous encounter had put the Premier League leaders on the back foot.
Despite the challenges, Arsenal responded in style, winning all three Premier League games since the first leg by an aggregate margin of 12-2. Porto, however, showed their strength by crushing rivals Benfica 5-0 earlier in the month.
The victory was not without its share of challenges, with Gabriel Martinelli unable to play due to a foot injury, and Arteta’s side had to work hard to secure their place in the quarter-finals.
The impressive turnaround and the captivating drama of the penalty shootout have undoubtedly added to the intrigue of Arsenal’s Champions League campaign. Football enthusiasts around the world eagerly anticipate the draw to see who the Gunners will face in the quarter-finals.