90min

X reacts as Arsenal sneak past Porto with penalty shoot-out victory

  • Arsenal made it to the Champions League quarter-final after penalty shoot-out victory
  • David Raya was the Gunners' saviour against Porto
  • Social media was enamoured by a thrilling game

By Ewan Ross-Murray

Arsenal needed David Raya to progress
Arsenal needed David Raya to progress / Shaun Botterill/GettyImages
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Arsenal squeezed into the Champions League last eight on Tuesday evening as they beat Porto in a penalty shoot-out at the Emirates Stadium.

Leandro Trossard got Arsenal back into the tie with his well-executed finish four minutes before half-time, but Arsenal couldn't muster a second across 120 minutes as the match headed to penalties.

Arsenal netted all four of their spot kicks with little fuss, but it was David Raya who achieved hero status following two impressive saves in the shoot-out.

Here is how X users reacted to the thrilling affair.

Having lost 1-0 to Porto at the Estadio do Dragao without a shot on target, Arsenal knew they would have to improve significantly for the return leg in north London.

The Gunners did enjoy some promising moments in the early stages at the Emirates, but they found it difficult to break through what was a stubborn Porto backline.

However, despite an impressive start from the visitors, the ingenuity of Martin Odegaard would hand Arsenal a crucial first-half lead.

The Norwegian sent a delightful through ball into the path of Trossard inside the Porto penalty area, with the former Brighton man making no mistake with his accurate effort into the bottom corner.

Lift off for the Gunners.

Arsenal thought they had completed the turnaround halfway through the second period, Kai Havertz forcing a mix-up between Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa and defender Pepe, and Odegaard lifting into an empty net.

However, the goal was disallowed immediately for a well-spotted pull on Pepe's shirt by Havertz, with VAR confirming referee Clement Turpin's decision.

Despite Arsenal's pressure on the Porto goal in the second half, they were unable to produce a vital second as the game headed into extra time.

With the Gunners a little off the pace, the nerves were starting to jangle furiously among the club's supporters.

However, a nervy extra time period threw up little drama, with both sides having to accept a penalty shoot-out to decide their Champions League fates.

But it was Arsenal who prevailed in the battle of the spot kicks, with Arteta indebted to two fabulous saves from goalkeeper Raya that sent the Gunners into the quarter-final.

A night to celebrate for Arsenal fans across the world.

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