In what was a nail-biting Champions League showdown from the Emirates on Tuesday night time, Arsenal punched their quarter-final ticket due to a penalties victory in opposition to Porto.
Whereas the Gunners may need suffered a 1-0 first-leg defeat once they travelled over to Portugal on February twentieth, Leandro Trossard dragged Arsenal stage on the night time simply 4 minutes earlier than the interval.
Though Mikel Artetaâs younger squad may need didn’t discover a dramatic late winner after being taken to extra-time, Arsenal actually held their nerve with an enormous quantity of strain on their shoulders.
With all of Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice changing from the spot, David Raya proved to be Arsenalâs hero because the Spanish shot-stopper denied each Galeno and Wendellâs efforts.
Though Porto may need suffered main European heartbreak right here as they missed out on the possibility to say an iconic scalp, the Portuguese giants ought to go away the capital with their heads held excessive.
On an evening when Arsenal punched a primary Champions League quarter-final ticket since 2010, we now have taken a have a look at the important thing speaking factors from north London.
Arsenal present their psychological resolve
Whereas Arsenal may need ultimately fallen brief final season of their bid to say a primary home crown since 2004, Artetaâs high-flying squad have their sights firmly set on making actual historical past this time round.
Within the midst of what has been a surprising Premier League romp and presently main the chase on the high of the desk, the Gunners are using what has been an actual wave of momentum.
Heading into Tuesdayâs second-leg after accumulating a dramatic 2-1 victory in opposition to London rivals Brentford over the weekend, Arsenal have now win 9 of their earlier 10 appearances throughout all competitions.
With that prolonged purple patch stemming all the way in which again to an FA Cup defeat in opposition to Liverpool on January seventh, Artetaâs camp ought to be fancying their possibilities of mounting a real European cost this yr.
Handed an prolonged relaxation with Marchâs worldwide break quick approaching on the horizon, Arsenal shall be subsequent seen once they journey to Manchester Metropolis for a season-defining showdown on March thirty first.
Porto ought to go away with their heads held excessive
Though Porto may need missed out on the possibility to finish a well-known Champions League upset right here, the Portuguese giants would have gained loads of admirers from throughout the continent.
Whereas Trossard did discover a technique to breach their resilient defence 4 minutes earlier than the half-time break, Sergio Conceicao’s males actually annoyed Arsenal on the Emirates on Tuesday night time.
With their defence marshalled by the evergreen 41-year-old Pepe, Porto ought to take loads of positives away from their efficiency as soon as the mud settles.
Not providing Arsenal the possibility to search out any type of fluidity within the ultimate third, the Dragons will now have all of their eggs firmly positioned again into this seasonâs Primeira Liga basket.
Making a significant home assertion earlier within the month as they opened March with a exceptional 5-0 romp at residence in opposition to historic rivals Benfica and struggling only a single top-flight defeat since getting the New 12 months underway, Conceicao’s facet have nonetheless created an actual platform to construct on.
Raya saves the day for Arsenal
Whereas the likes of Saka and Rice may need continued to steal most of Arsenalâs headlines this season, it was actually Arsenalâs number-one who proved to be Artetaâs hero on Tuesday night time.
With Aaron Ramsdale making what may have been a expensive clanger after being briefly recalled in opposition to Brentford over the weekend, Arteta has been crammed with reward for the affect that Raya has made since arriving in north London final summer season.
Famend for his capability to play out from the again, it undeniably raised loads of eyebrows when the Spanish worldwide changed Ramsdale as Arsenalâs first selection between the sticks.
Though Raya may need solely arrived from Brentford on an preliminary season-long mortgage change, it’s no shock that the Gunners shall be making that transfer a everlasting one.
Denying each Galeno and Wendellâs spot kicks and sending Arsenal to a primary Champions League quarter-final ticket since 2010, Raya has actually written himself into the Gunnersâ folklore right here.
Match Report
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliva, Gabriel, Kiwior, Odegaard, Rice, Jorginho, Saka, Havertz, Trossard
Subs: Jesus, Zinchenko, Nketiah
Porto: Costa, Joao Mario, Pepe, Otavio, Wendell, Varela, Nico, Conceicao, Pepe, Galeno, Evanilson
Subs: Borges, Grujic, Sanchez, Taremi, Eustaquilo
Targets: Trossard (41â)
Yellow Playing cards: Arsenal: Saliba, Havertz – Porto: Pepe
Crimson Playing cards: N/A
Referee: Clement Turpin
