CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

ARSENAL 1 (Trossard 41) 

PORTO 0 

(Arsenal win 4-2 on penalties aet)

DAVID Raya saved two to his left in a dramatic penalty shootout to put the Gunners in the hat for the Champions League quarter finals.

Arsenal’s stars hit perfect spot kicks to put serious pressure on the visitors kicking towards a red sea of wavy arms and swirling scarfs.

Although deserved winners, Arteta’s side struggled to breakdown a well organised and stubborn Porto defence.

The manager said: ” We had to do it at the end with the penalties, we prepared well, and credit to the coaches as well for the way they did it and obviously for David [Raya].

“He had some difficult moments to start but he stood up, had an incredible personality and ambition, and at the end he got rewarded with his moment.”

He added that he was worried “as a few of them missed” in the penalty training earlier in the morning

Leandro Trossard settled the nerves just before half time with a well taken finish into the far corner after Martin Odegaard dissected the defence with a perfect pass.

Odegaard had the ball in the back of the net in the second half but the ref ruled Kai Havertz had fouled Pepe.

The wily central defender – 41 years young – was then booked for a foul on  Havertz – one of many random decisions from the ref Clement Turpin who didn’t seem to be in full control of the game or his own emotions for most of the match.

Late in the second half, Jesus almost scored with his first touch but was denied from close range by the keeper’s trailing leg.

Odegaard should have scored moments later but struck a rebounded save first time just wide.

The atmosphere was for large spells edgy as anxiety levels built and with the crowd getting riled up by dirty play from the visitors.

There was a low level brawl of players after the final whistle, an extension of a bad tempered match with many fouls, shoves and late challenges.

At Porto, the Gunners had struggled to break through and registered only one shot on goal.

The visitors started in a similarly solid fashion, cutting the passing lanes in midfield.

They were content ticking down the clock by passing it about at the back and then hitting it long down the wings when required.

Arsenal were not pressing high up the pitch and let them get on with it.

But Odegaard proved the difference with his incisive pass for Trossard’s opener, stroked in with sublime calm and precision.

Havertz was impressive at winning and holding the ball up but did not have a shot on goal, other than one that was offside but drifted wide.

Bukayo Saka had the first real chance but his shot pee-rolled straight down the middle.

Odegaard also saw a good chance dribble harmlessly wide.

Porto’s bustling Evanilson hit a strong drive that forced a save from Raya – excellent throughout – as the visitors turned up the pressure in the first half.

It always looked liked pens and in the end Arsenal can count themselves lucky that lady fortune appears to be on their side.

Last time the Emirates crowd witnessed a Champions League knockout game it was the humiliating 5-1 defeat to Bayern Munich, after losing by the same score at their ground.

Seven years later they are one of the favourites to lift the trophy at Wembley.

No wonder Arsenal fans are cheering Arteta’s name with pride and gusto.

Arsenal: Raya, Saliba, Gabriel, White, Kiwior (Zinchenko 105) Jorginho (Jesus 82), Rice, Odegaard, Trossard (Nketiah 105), Saka, Havertz 
Subs not used: Ramsdale, Hein, Partey, Rowe, Cedric, Tomiyasu, Vieira, Nelson, Elneny

Porto: Costa, Pepe, Conceicao (Borges 100), Pepe, Geleno, Gonzalez (Eustaquio 100), Wendell, Varela, Mario (Sanchez 85), Evanilson (Taemim 87), Otavio
Subs not used: Ramos, Cardoso, Grujlic, Jaime, Namaso, Baro, Martinez, Pedro