Rio Ferdinand expressed his belief that Arsenal is on the brink of competing with any team in the Champions League this season, following their victory over Porto, securing a place in the quarter-final stages
Trailing 1-0 from the initial leg in Portugal, Leandro Trossard leveled the tie just before halftime.
Despite Arsenal’s inability to break through a resilient Porto side in the second half, the match proceeded to penalties.
Raya the hero for the gunners
In a tense shootout, David Raya emerged as the hero, saving two spot kicks, while Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, and Declan Rice all converted their penalties.
This victory propels Arsenal to the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in 14 years, joining Manchester City, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich in the next round, with two more teams set to join after Wednesday’s final round of last 16 games.
With Arsenal topping the Premier League and breaking a European hoodoo on Tuesday night, former Manchester United and England defender Ferdinand insists they can contend for the trophy this season.
What did Ferdinand say?
“I think they are genuinely a hard, hard opposition for anybody left in the competition, I don’t care who it is,” Ferdinand told TNT Sport. via Metro “Manchester City, over two legs, it is a difficult game for them because Arsenal are a team that can match most teams left in this competition. Whether they beat them, I think they can go close to anyone at the moment.”
Raya, who received accolades for his performance in the shootout, commented, “A great moment for me personally and collectively.
I’m over the moon to save two penalties in the Champions League to get through to the quarter-finals.”
“They made it so difficult over there; they played their game, but we scored the goal we needed, and it went down to penalties — 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 kinds 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.”
