Arsenal won their first ever CL penalty shootout at Highbury or the Emirates to breath a massive sigh of relief.
The best thing for a manager is for your team to win without playing well as your squad can learn while still progressing.
Mikel Arteta will know deep down that Arsenal will have to play a lot better if they want to advance further in Europe.
Viewed as a kind draw, Porto mostly controlled the two legs. While their tactics were negative, they rocked up a game plan with each player understanding their jobs. Whether it was playing for throw ins to slow down the tempo or passing back to their keeper, the Portuguese side will feel tactically the Gunners played into their hands.
The expected onslaught on their goal never came and in extra time we seemed leggy.
If the shootout goes different, we might be debating if we were too conservative?
We might point out how Odegaard was one of the few players to not go missing.
We might even question the subs. If Smith Rowe can’t get on the pitch in 120 mins when you need a goal he might never get on?
Yet our approach could also be viewed as maturity. Previous versions of the Gunners would have thrown bodies forward and panicked.
Witnessing extra time in the CL for the first time at the Emirates, Gooners stuck by the players even when recognising we were not at our best.
It takes skill to not be at your best and yet still triumph over two legs. That will only help a young dressing room’s mindset in the title race.
Realising the opposition had more control than maybe envisaged, we kept our composure, didn’t panic and managed the occasion.
Ultimately these are the nights we want to be involved in and went through some dark days to get back too.
It’s 14 years since we have been in the last 8 of UEFA’s premiere competition. There would be children who were witnessing Arsenal win a knockout tie in this tournament for the first time.
We will have to improve to make the last 4 but let’s enjoy this moment.
Dan
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