- Arsenal beat Porto 4-2 on penalties to reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2010
- Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice all converted their penalties, while David Raya denied Porto’s Wendell and Galeno
Premier League club Arsenal reached the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2010 after defeating Porto in a penalty shootout on Tuesday night during the Arsenal vs Porto fixture.
Arsenal began the second leg of this season’s UEFA Champions League Round of 16 when 1-0 down, having lost to the Portuguese side during their first meeting. Despite having the home support they needed in this second leg, Arsenal struggled in the first half as Porto were in control of the match.
However, captain Martin Odegaard showed his brilliance shortly before the end of the first period to find Leandro Trossard, who levelled the scores for the Gunners. Despite both teams creating chances in the second period, the game had to be decided via penalty shootout after a less frantic extra time.
Arsenal vs Porto. Photo/ BBC.
Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice all converted their penalties, while David Raya denied Porto’s Wendell and Galeno, sending Arsenal to the quarter-finals. There were scenes of wild celebrations at Emirates Stadium as Arsenal advanced to the last eight of Europe’s premier club competition.
How The Arsenal Vs Porto Game Unfolded
Mikel Arteta made only one change from his team that beat Brentford 2-1 over the weekend, as David Raya replaced Aaron Ramsdale in goal. Meanwhile, Porto manager Sergio Conceicao named the same starting lineup that beat Arsenal 1-0 in the first leg.
Porto travelled to England to frustrate Arsenal, and they did the job very well in the opening minutes of the encounter. They had more possession than the hosts and Evanilson in particular was causing chaos in front. The Brazilian almost put the visitors in front after beating his marker and firing towards goal. However, Raya showed his prowess in goal by stopping the ball from finding the back of the net.
With time running out, Porto had succeeded in putting Arsenal where they wanted them to be. Frustrations could be seen among Arsenal players and William Saliba eventually received a deserved yellow card for his troubles in the 39th minute.
Barely two minutes later, Arsenal were back into this contest, thanks to Odegaard’s brilliance and Leandro Trossard’s finish. It was the Belgian’s third Champions League goal of the season and 12th across all competitions this campaign. Also, he became only the third player to score in each of his first three Champions League home games for Arsenal, after Alexis Sanchez and Saka.
The second half started rapidly, with both sides moving forward in search of goal. Arsenal thought they had taken the lead when Odegaard scored but the goal was ruled out for a foul by Kai Havertz on Pepe in the build up.
David Raya saved two FC Porto penalties to send Arsenal to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2010. Photo/ SuperSport.
Porto’s Francisco Conceicao forced Raya into a stunning save before Jakub Kiwior blocked the rebound. Arteta threw in Gabriel Jesus with time running out and the Brazilian almost found the back of the net with his first touch, but Costa was quick off his line to thwart him.
With aggregate score being 1-1 at full time, the match had to proceed to extra time. Both teams were keen to avoid conceding in extra time and the match had to be decided through penalty shootout.
Whereas Arsenal converted all their penalties, Porto missed two, thanks to David Raya’s massive saves that sent Arsenal to the next round of the UEFA Champions League. By progressing to the quarters, the Gunners ended a run of seven consecutive last 16 eliminations in Europe’s elite competition.
The Arsenal vs Porto game was the first Champions League knockout match to go to a penalty shootout since the final between Spanish giants Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in 2016.
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