David Raya was the savior on Wednesday night as Arsenal beat Porto 4-2 on penalties on to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in 14 years
The teams were locked at 1-1 on aggregate after an absorbing second leg at the Emirates but Raya saved twice in the shootout to break the hearts of the two-time champions.
The goalkeeper dived full stretch to deny Wendell and repeated the feat against Galeno, while the home side converted all four of their penalties as the decibel count soared.
It is the first time a Champions League match has been decided by penalties since the 2016 final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
The first leg in Portugal saw Porto win 1-0, but Leandro Trossard’s goal in the 41st minute at Emirates Stadium levelled the tie, sending it to extra tine and then penalties.
Both sides struggled to settle in a scrappy opening period, with Porto doing their best to slow the game down by taking their time with throw-ins and goal kicks, to the audible frustration of the home crowd.
Arsenal defender Ben White headed over in the fourth minute after the home side’s first sustained attack while captain Martin Odegaard hit the side netting 10 minutes later.