David Raya Saves Two Porto Penalties As Arsenal Win Shootout to Stay in Champions League
Arsenal beat Porto in a penalty shootout on Tuesday night to reach the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 14 years.
After losing the first leg 1-0 in Portugal last month, the Gunners won by the same score at home thanks to a 41st-minute strike from Leandro Trossard.
Captain Martin Odegaard - who had produced a brilliant assist for Trossard's opener - thought he had put his side ahead on aggregate in the 67th minute but his goal was disallowed for a Kai Havertz foul on Pepe.
Both sides looked edgy throughout extra time but Arsenal's players then coped better with the pressure of penalties.
Odegaard, Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice all hit the net from 12 yards.
But David Raya saved spot-kicks from Wendell and Galeno as the Gunners prevailed 4-2 in the shootout.
Highlights: Arsenal 1-0 Porto (1-1 on aggregate, 4-2 on penalties)
Raya spoke to TNT Sports after his penalty heroics. He said: "Obviously it's a great feeling for me personally, first time in the Champions League and for the club to get into the quarter-finals for the first time in so many years.
"We played a really good game from the start. We dominated, created chances and it went down to penalties. We've worked a lot on penalties this year and all the hard work with the goalie coach and the team has paid off.
"A great moment personally and collectively. I'm over the moon to save two penalties in the Champions League to get through to the quarter-finals. They [Porto] made it so difficult over there, they played their game, but we scored the goal we needed and it went down to penalties and it was a crazy moment.
"Apart from physically from the boys, mentally it's difficult, but especially for me to be focused every second, you can't switch off.
"This means everything. You play football for these kind of things and I'm lucky to be playing for Arsenal, to be in the Champions League and to get through to the quarter-finals. We're just going to enjoy the night."
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya (left) saved two penalty kicks in Tuesday's shootout win over Porto
CBS Sports
Arsenal's last UCL quarter-final was a 6-3 defeat by Barcelona in 2010.
The Gunners could potentially face Barca again this season after the five-time champions overcame Napoli elsewhere in the round of 16 on Tuesday.
Manchester City, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are also possible opponents for Mikel Arteta's men.
The draw for the quarter-finals will take place on Friday.
