Arsenal beat Porto: David Raya delivers when it matters most on crucial Champions League ni

[CharlieH]

 

David Raya settled all lingering arguments about manager Mikel Arteta's judgement and his status as Arsenal's first-choice goalkeeper amid the sound and fury of a dramatic Champions League win over Porto at Emirates Stadium.

Raya's uncertain start as replacement for Aaron Ramsdale prompted suggestions that Arteta had attempted to fix something that was not actually broken by bringing in the Spaniard from Brentford to replace the Arsenal fans' favourite who was good enough to play for England.

 

And in the spirit of full disclosure, and before the reminders arrive and large portions of humble pie are thrown in this direction, one of the biggest doubters is right here and must admit to being wrong after witnessing Raya's finest night since arriving at Arsenal.

Raya delivered when it mattered most, offering further confirmation of his steady improvement and reliability, with two penalty shootout saves from Wendell and Galeno as Arsenal reached a Champions League quarter-final for the first time in 14 years with a 4-2 win in the shootout after a 1-0 win on the night.

 

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It was a tense, nervous, ill-tempered night which will serve as an ideal crash course in the Champions League as Arsenal lept a psychological barrier into the last eight after losing at this last-16 stage in their past seven ventures into the competition.

 

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