Rio Ferdinand believes Arsenal are close to matching any other teams in the Champions League this season after the Gunners defeated Porto to reach the quarter-final stages.
Trailing 1-0 from the initial match in Portugal, Leandro Trossard leveled the score just before half-time. Arsenal struggled to breach a determined Porto side in the second half, leading to a penalty shootout.
David Raya emerged as the hero for the home side, saving two penalties while Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, and Declan Rice all converted, enabling Arsenal to reach the last eight of the competition for the first time in 14 years.
They join Manchester City, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich in the next round, with two more teams set to join them in Wednesday’s final round of last 16 games.
With Arsenal leading the Premier League and breaking their European curse on Tuesday, former Manchester United and England defender Ferdinand believes they can compete for the trophy this season.
‘I think they are truly a formidable opponent for any team remaining in the competition, regardless of who it is,’ Ferdinand told TNT Sport.
‘Manchester City will have a tough time over two legs because Arsenal are capable of challenging most teams remaining in this competition.
‘I believe they can come close to defeating any team at the moment.’
Raya received praise for maintaining composure during the shootout. ‘A proud moment for me individually and collectively,’ he expressed.
‘I’m thrilled to have saved two penalties in the Champions League to advance to the quarter-finals.
‘They made it very challenging in their territory, stuck to their game plan, but we scored the essential goal, leading to penalties. It was an intense moment.
‘Mentally, it was tough for the guys, but especially for me to remain focused every second, never losing concentration.
‘This means everything. This is the reason we play football, and I consider myself fortunate to represent Arsenal, participate in the Champions League, and progress to the quarter-finals. We’re simply going to savor this evening.’
