Finally Arsenal’s long 14-year wait for a spot in the Champions League quarter finals is over, thanks largely to David Raya’s penalty saves. Raya pushed one penalty from Porto’s Wendell against the post and then blocked another from Galeno, sealing a 4-2 victory in a penalty shootout at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.
It broke Arsenal’s streak of losing in the round of 16. They had been knocked out at this stage in their last seven tries, but they managed to win 1-0 this time, tying the overall score at 1-1 (In the first leg, Porto defeated Arsenal 1-0).
It was a huge moment for Raya, who came in last summer to replace Aaron Ramsdale as Arsenal’s main goalkeeper. The club’s fans have often raised questions on this decision throughout the season.
“Obviously it’s a great feeling for me personally, first time in the Champions League and for the club to get into the quarterfinals for the first time in so many years,” Raya said. “We’ve worked a lot on penalties this year and all the hard work with the goalie coach and the team has paid off.”
Arsenal was behind 1-0 after the first leg in Portugal, where Galeno scored the decisive goal in stoppage time. However, they leveled the score with Leandro Trossard’s goal in the 41st minute. Even with extra time, neither team managed to score again, as Porto’s strong defensive tactics mostly kept Arsenal from breaking through.
This was the Champions League’s first penalty shootout since Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid in the 2016 final. In another game on Tuesday, Barcelona secured a spot in the quarterfinals with a 3-1 victory over Napoli, advancing with a 4-2 aggregate score.
Arsenal faced seven consecutive round-of-16 defeats under Arsene Wenger from 2011 to 2017, which was the last time they participated in the competition. Porto made it to the quarterfinals in 2021 but hasn’t progressed further since winning the title in 2004 under Jose Mourinho.
It is now a golden opportunity for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to achieve something that Wenger never could — win Europe’s biggest trophy.
“So happy. It has been 14 years, which is a long time for a club like Arsenal and it shows how difficult it was,” said Arteta, whose team is also top of the Premier League. “We really had to dig in to find the magic moment at the end. We’re starting to create an unbelievable energy in the stadium, we were all pushing to get it done and together we have done it.”
Porto managed to secure a victory with a long-range shot in the first leg and worked hard to maintain their lead through solid defense till the end using various time-wasting tactics.
The home team, however, could manage a couple of chances in the first half when striker Evanilson narrowly missed the target with a shot from outside the area in the 16th minute after Arsenal lost possession. In the 22nd minute, he took a shot from the center of the area forcing Raya into making a good save.
After continuously pushing forward, Arsenal’s efforts were rewarded when Trossard found the net with a low shot that went inside the far post. Martin Odegaard set him up in the area for the goal. The shot went between the legs of veteran defender Pepe, who, at 41, holds the record as the oldest outfield player to compete in a Champions League match, the same age as Arteta.
In the second half, Odegaard scored another goal to put Arsenal 2-0 but the goal was ruled out as Kai Havertz was adjudged to have fouled Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa moments before.
Shortly after entering the game in the 83rd minute as a substitute, Gabriel Jesus almost scored with a shot that almost slipped between Costa’s legs, but it deflected out for a corner. Then, Odegaard had an excellent opportunity when Bukayo Saka made a strong run forward and forced a save from Costa. The ball rebounded to Odegaard, but he missed the target with an open net in front of him.
In extra time, Porto’s substitute Mehdi Taremi got the first opportunity in the 101st minute when he entered the area, but his shot curled wide of the far post. Later on, in the 110th minute, Saka had a shot blocked at the last second after being set up by substitute Eddie Nketiah in the box.
Arsenal’s home advantage then proved pivotal in the penalty shootout. In the penalty shootout, Odegaard, Havertz, Saka and Declan Rice – all were able to score for Arsenal while Pepe and Grujic made it for Porto. David Raya managed to push Wendell’s shot into the post while he dove to his left only to deny Galeno in the decisive shot.
Amidst the loud cheers and swirling red and white scarves, Wendell and Galeno couldn’t stay focused, and their missed penalties cost Porto dearly. As Arsenal fans sang one last round of ‘Super Mik Arteta,’ it marked a memorable moment for the manager.