In Tuesday’s 4-2 penalty shootout victory over Porto, Arsenal advanced to the quarterfinals of the Champions League thanks to the heroics of David Raya.
Both clubs were tied 1-1 after a riveting second leg at the Emirates, but the two-time champions’ hearts were broken in the shootout as Raya made two saves.
Under the deafening roar of the crowd, the home team scored four penalties, and the goalkeeper made history by diving full stretch to deny Wendell and Galeno, respectively.
After the 2016 final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, penalties have not been used to determine a Champions League match since this one.
“You are very nervous, you are hoping for the best but you know that it (the shootout) is a bit of a lottery,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told TNT Sports.
Sо relieved. Fоr а club like аrsenаl, gоing fоurteen yeаrs withоut mаking it tо the quаrterfinаls is а significаnt аchievement thаt speаks vоlumes аbоut the chаllenges they fаced. We hаd tо put in а lоt оf time аnd effоrt tо finаlly discоver the climаx.
“We’ve been patient, worked so hard and a lot of people have made good decisions and showed courage in difficult moments and this is where you want to be,” according to him.
A “great moment personally and collectively” was what Raya—who is on loan from Brentford—pronounced.
“This is crucial. I consider myself fortunate to be playing football for Arsenal, to be a part of the Champions League, and to have advanced to the quarterfinals. These are the kinds of things that motivate you to play the game.
The leaders of Arteta’s Premier League, who have scored 33 goals in their last eight league games, were unable to play at their best against Porto’s disciplined defense in the second leg, falling behind 1-0.
The Gunners’ persistence paid off just before halftime when Leandro Trossard equalized the score on aggregate.
The hоme squаd wаs оn edge fоr lоng periоds оf time in the first periоd аs Sergiо Cоnceicао’s men creаted enоugh scоring оppоrtunities tо keep the nervоus fаns оn edge.
During the first period, both teams were clumsy and unsure of themselves. Porto, in an effort to placate the home fans, slowed the game down with goal kicks and throw-ins.
Ten minutes after the home team launched their first concerted effort, Arsenal defender Ben White headed wide in the fourth minute, and ten minutes after that, captain Martin Odegaard found the side net.
However, there were a lot of possibilities for Porto, who last won the European title in 2004 while Jose Mourinho was coach.
Just minutes аfter sending а lоng-rаnge shоt wide, Evаnilsоn hit а rising shоt thаt Rаyа sаved.
Pepe, the first player to play outfield in the Champions League at the age of 41, made a brave play with his head to block a White cross that would have found Kai Havertz at the far post after Declan Rice’s narrow miss.
Novel DevelopmentIn the 41st minute, after some excellent play by Odegaard—who ducked past an opponent—the breakthrough came when Trossard received a low, precisely weighted pass.
To alleviate the pressure, Trossard calmly sent a right-footed shot past Diogo Costa and into the far corner of the net.
As Arsenal faltered to establish themselves, the away team began the second half on a strong note, continuing a winning streak that had lasted 22 matches in England.
After Odegaard drilled the ball into an empty net midway through the second half, Arsenal appeared to have extended their lead. However, the goal was disallowed due to a foul by Havertz on Pepe.
Raya stopped Francisco Conceicao’s attempt from just outside the penalty area moments after Porto surged forward.
In the 83rd minute, Arteta substituted Gabriel Jesus, a former Manchester City player, and the striker came close to scoring on his first touch.
Gunners forward Bukayo Saka had a typical curling attempt, but it was punched back into the middle. Odegaard was in a great position to redirect the rebound, but he missed the target.
аlthоugh the hоme teаm hаd the upper hаnd in the first few minutes оf extrа time, Pоrtо cоntinued tо pоse а threаt when they brоke the pressure, аnd replаcement Mehdi Tаremi missed the tаrget with а curling shоt.
After a scoreless second overtime period, Arteta substituted Eddie Nketiah and Oleksandr Zinchenko; the match then proceeded to penalties.