For the first time since 2010, Arsenal advanced to the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals after defeating Porto 4-2 on penalties.
The Gunners broke the fourteen-year-old curse of departing the UEFA Champions League in the round of sixteen.
In their UEFA Champions League round of 16 match, Arsenal defeated Porto 1-0 in the second leg, forcing the game to go to penalties for the first time since the 2016 championship.
Arsenal goalkeeper, David Raya became the hero of the match when he saved two penalties from the FC Porto Side.
A goal from Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard gave the Gunners a lead in the 41st minute of the first half. Automatically meaning a penalty shootout between both sides, Martin Ødegaard, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Kai Havertz all put the ball in the back of the net for Arsenal.
Reacting after getting the Player of the Match award, Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya said, “The team played really, really well. The main thing is that we kept a clean sheet, but we scored a goal and got through. It means everything to be in the quarter-finals; you play football for these kinds of things. I’m over the moon.”
Head coach for Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, who was in high spirits said, “I’m so happy. It has been 14 years, which is a long time for a club like Arsenal and it shows how difficult it was. 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.”
Arsenal have kept nine clean sheets in their last nine UEFA Champions League matches at the Emirates.
With the Quarterfinals in sight, Arsenal could face treble winners Manchester City after the UEFA Champions League Draws are made.