Arsenal 1-0 Porto (1-1 on agg. Arsenal win 4-2 on penalties) – David Raya the hero as Gunners win shootout

David Raya was the hero, saving two Porto penalties as Arsenal scored four from four to progress into the last eight of the Champions League for the first time in 14 years – at the end of a terrific tie.

Porto were worthy foes, Leandro Trossard’s goal which levelled the aggregate score the only one they conceded in 210 minutes of football. And what a goal it was, beautifully instigated by Martin Odegaard and finished superbly, just as the visitors looked set to make it to half-time still in front.

But though they could not, they defended superbly and attacked in numbers, limiting Arsenal to few chances after the break. Odegaard did get the ball in the net with a lovely deft wedge, but VAR revealed the ball broke to him following Kai Havertz’s foul on Pepe.

Arsenal struggled to gather momentum thereafter, and extra time was a scrappy affair, Mikel Arteta sending attackers on as his players looked to avoid defeat. But when penalties came, Odegaard, Havertz, Saka and Rice confidently despatched, while Raya saved from Wendell and Galeno.

So Arsenal, already top of the Premier League, are into the last eight of the Champions League – and will be starting to wonder where this season might end.

Tonight was an important staging post for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal. The club are into the last eight of the Champions League for the first time in 14 years, and the players now know they can hang in there together when it gets tense.

However, there’s always someone with a however, so however: they didn’t play well in either tie against a team they’d expect to beat handily, and when things got tight in normal time and extra time, they weren’t able to produce.

The draw might yet be kind, but if it isn’t, performances like the two in this tie won’t be good enough. But let’s finish with a counter however: the experience of winning this tie in this way gives Arteta’s Arsenal a much better chance of doing exactly that.

Martin Odegaard was the best player on the pitch, a beguiling combination of athleticism, imagination and dexterity. He also created the only goal, had another lovely finish chalked off for someone else’s infraction, won both penalty tosses, and despatched the first one in style. But, well, he didn’t save two opposition efforts, so here we are.

Arsenal: Raya 9, White 6, Gabriel 6, Saliba 6, Kiwior 7, Jorgiho 6, Rice 7, Odegaard 8, Saka 5, Havertz 5, Trossard 6. Subs: Jesus 6, Nketiah 6, Zinchenko 6.

Porto: Diogo Costa 6, Joao Mario 7, Pepe 8, Otavio 8, Wendell 8, Varela 7, Nico gonzalez 7, Pepe 7, Conceicao 6, Evanilson 7, Galeno 6. Subs: Sanchez 6, Taremi 6, Grujic 6, Eustaquio 6, Borges 6.

4’ - SAKA DRIVES TOWARDS THE PORTO BOX - But Wendell nails him with a glorious, crunching tackle. Arsenal, though, work it wide to Trossard, he digs out a cross from the left, and White's up! But his header, ball sent back whence it came, plops on to the roof of the net.

16’ - ARSENAL ARE COMING NOW - Trossard crossing very nicely from the left ... and Saka steals in front of his man! But looking to glance it around the corner, he can't contort his swede as he needs to, sending the ball in the other direction.

18’ - SALIBA OPTS TO HEADA LONG BALL WHEN HE CAN JUST LEAVE IT - Raya could collect. But instead, Evanilson does, attracts three men to him ... and shovels a low shot from the edge ... only narrowly wide of the far post!

30’ - NOW HERE COME ARSENAL! Saka finds White down the right, he stands up a delicious cross to the far post where Havertz lurks ... and WHAT IS THAT?! Out of absolutely nowhere, Pepe hurls himself backwards, heads out from under the bar, clatters the post so loudly you hear it, and saves a certain goal! Astounding behaviour!

41’ - GOAL!!! ARSENAL (1) 1-0 (1) PORTO (TROSSARD) - Arsenal just have so many players who can hurt you, but the man who makes them tick is Martin Odegaard. And he's at the centre of this goal, collecting a loose ball, finding Trossard, collecting a return, and holding possession beautifully, unbalancing Joao Mario in the time it takes Trossard to zoom into position. A clipped pass in behind, almost on one leg, and Trossard - played onside by Pepe - calmly opens body and foot, passing into the far corner. That is a fantastic piece of association.

67’ GOAL!!! ARSENAL (2) 2-1 (1) PORTO (ODEGAARD) - Martin Odegaard is footballer, people. Goodness me. A hopeful ball over the top, Pepe gets into a tangle under pressure from Havertz, his keeper doesn't come until late doors, and when all three collide, the ball breaks to odegaard on the edge and he clips a short-wedges a clip over all of them, knowing he has to act that quiclky. BUT DID HAVERTZ FOUL PEPE?!

68’ - NO GOAL! Havertz pulled Pepe, clear as evening. Arteta is booked for arguing, but the footage is conclusive.

83’ - ODEGAARD COAXES A BALL OVER THE TOP - It comes back to him and he megs Conceicao; of course he does. The ball then moves into the box and a scramble ensues, Saka bundling the ball through, and Jesus is there! On the half-turn,he gets his snap-shot away, it's on target ... but clips Diogo Costa's undercarriage and bounces to safety! That's the first near-thing in a while.

SAVED!!! ARSENAL 2-1 PORTO - Wendell smacks right, Raya guesses right, tips it onto the post and it hits him so doesn't go back in! Advantage Arsenal!

SAVED!!! ARSENAL 4-2 PORTO - David Raya is the hero, again picking the right side - this time to foil Galeno - and no, Arteta shouldn't bring Ramsdale on. What a tie this has been, but it's Arsenal moving on, into the last eight for the first time in 14 years!