Havertz helps a lot
Arsenal FC survives penalty crime – and overcomes its trauma
March 12, 2024, 11:59 p.m
Arsenal FC had to wait a long, long time for this moment: the Premier League leaders are in the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time in 14 years. The path there is rocky and nerve-wracking.
Arsenal FC has ended its Champions League round of 16 trauma. The Gunners beat FC Porto 4-2 on penalties in the second leg. After regular time and extra time the score was 1-0. This meant Arsenal reached the quarter-finals of the premier class for the first time since 2010. The Londoners had previously failed in the first knockout round seven times in a row. The team around German international Kai Havertz lost the first leg 0-1.
Havertz converted confidently in the penalty shootout, but former Leverkusen player Wendell missed when he was denied by David Raya. The Spaniard then parried against Galeno and became the Gunners’ hero. Leandro Trossard (41′) scored the hosts’ goal in the game. Arsenal could also face German record champions Bayern Munich in Friday’s draw.
From the start in London it was a fast-paced encounter with opportunities on both sides. Trossard took the lead shortly before halftime. In the second half, Arsenal built up more pressure after a short initial phase, but the English Premier League leaders missed a few opportunities. Only the penalty shootout brought the decision.
Despite the traumatic series of defeats in the round of 16, the omens were good: before the final decision, captain Martin Odegaard had won both the choice of the goal on which the penalties would be taken and who should start the penalty shootout. The Norwegian had a shot at the home corner and personally led the way. Porto was unable to counter twice.