After a long-standing jinx in the Champions League’s round-of-16, Arsenal has finally triumphed. Following an intense 120-minute battle that culminated in a nail-biting penalty shootout, the Gunners endured FC Porto’s relentless challenges to secure a spot in the quarterfinals, a feat not achieved since 2010.
Mikel Arteta, stepping in as manager, faced the daunting legacy of seven straight eliminations at this phase, spanning from 2011 to 2017—a period during which he also contributed as a player. However, upon Arsenal’s much-anticipated comeback to the premier European club tournament, Arteta has successfully dismantled this barrier at his initial attempt.
“For them to do it when the club hasn’t managed to do it for 14 years, I tell you it will be a boost,” Arteta said after Tuesday’s match. “The margins are so small. You find a way to do it again. I see how much they want it, how much they try, and they are able to sacrifice anything to win. When you play like this at the end, good things are going to come your way.”
Arsenal’s performance in the match may not have been entirely persuasive, as they were pulled into a contest that favored cunning and aggression over skillful play. This tension led to both managers being booked for separate incidents, with the animosity spilling over into a heated exchange at the match’s conclusion.
Yet, the focus on finesse can wait. Arteta’s goal is to transform Arsenal into consistent contenders for top honors, moving past the era of mockery during the knockout stages under former manager Arsene Wenger. That era is now behind them.
With a 1-0 deficit from the first leg, Leandro Trossard brought Arsenal back into contention with a goal at the 41st minute, thanks largely to Martin Odegaard’s deft skill and creative vision.
Porto was a formidable adversary, often overstating fouls across the field while also applying smart and courageous pressure. This strategy ensured that the second half was more than just a defensive effort against Arsenal’s advances. Remarkably, Arsenal only managed a single shot in extra time.
However, in the decisive moments, Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, and Declan Rice stayed composed during the penalty shootout. Wendell and Galeno’s penalties were expertly thwarted by David Raya, marking a significant achievement for this youthful Arsenal team.
“What we expected, a really tough opponent, really well organised and very difficult to generate constant momentum in the game,” Arteta said. “That’s credit to them. We did it. We scored a beautiful goal, and then we insisted in different ways. We had to do it at the end with the penalties. We prepared well. Credit to the coaches and the ones who took them.”
This marked the first Champions League shootout since the 2016 final, and remarkably, Pepê was involved once again. At 41, he set a record as the oldest player to participate in this elite competition.
Arsenal exorcised past disappointments by prevailing in their first shootout at the Emirates Stadium, erasing the bitter memory of last year’s Europa League round-of-16 defeat in a similar scenario—this time against Sporting Lisbon, another team from Portugal.
Arteta’s strategic decisions, notably starting Trossard in the injured Gabriel Martinelli’s stead and opting for Raya over Aaron Ramsdale, despite Ramsdale’s solid performance in the previous season’s championship bid, have proven to be astute, contributing to this historic victory.
Asked how he knew Raya would be able to cope with high-pressure moments in goal, Arteta said: “I didn’t have to see him today; I was convinced he could.”
“You see him those first few days here — what he had to go through and how he did it with that composure,” Arteta added. “You look at his body language and the decisions that he takes, he doesn’t get very affected. That’s a key quality for that position.”
A defeat in this match could have mirrored the demoralizing impact of last season’s loss to Sporting, which led to a slump in Arsenal’s domestic performance—winning only three of their final nine matches and costing them the Premier League title. Arteta is likely optimistic that this victory will inspire a positive momentum shift, propelling the team towards greater success.
“That’s the way you have to look at it right now,” he said. “If you’re out, you think, ‘One less competition, that’s great for the league.’ Now we’re in, it’s the energy that it brings among the squad. It can be very powerful and very useful.
“It’s another big step, especially as a club. For seven years we haven’t been in this competition and for 14 years we haven’t got this far. That tells you the difficulty of it. We want more and we’re going to go for it, that’s for sure.”