Arsenal defeated Porto 4-2 on penalties to go to the Champions League quarterfinals after their last-16 match finished 1-1 overall. David Raya was the hero, saving two spot kicks.
Four minutes before halftime, Leandro Trossard, replacing the injured Gabriel Martinelli on the left side of Arsenal’s attack, tied the score with a low finish into the far corner after being found by Martin Odegaard’s deft, disguised cross.
But halfway through the second half, Odegaard’s controversially disallowed shot by referee Clement Turpin sent the game into extra time, which was followed by penalties.
After saving two penalties from Porto, Raya proved to be the game-winner for the home team. The hosts made history by making it to the final eight of Europe’s top club competition for the first time since 2010.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta:
“So happy – 14 years is a long time for a club like Arsenal not to do what we’ve done today,” he said.
“We had to dig in and find the magic moment we did at the end today. So proud and so happy.
“You are very nervous. You are hoping for the best but you know it’s a bit of a lottery. We did our preparation yesterday and the day before just in case and it really helped so credit to the goalkeeping coaches as well.
“We have started to create an unbelievable energy in the stadium and we are all pushing to get it done, and together we’ve done it.
“Unbelievable. That’s where we want to be. We have been patient and this is where we want to be.”
Due to Chelsea’s FA Cup involvement this weekend, Arsenal’s Premier League home match against the Blues has been postponed. The team will then take an international break before their next match, which does not happen for nearly three weeks.
Mikel Arteta’s team will play Manchester City in a major title match at the Etihad Stadium on March 31 when they make their comeback to action.
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