Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has shared his thoughts on Arsenal’s celebrations following their penalty shootout victory over Porto. Ferdinand made his remarks while speaking on TNT Sports after Arsenal secured a spot in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Despite losing 1-0 in Portugal, Mikel Arteta’s side managed to level the tie on the night thanks to a goal from Leandro Trossard. The match was eventually decided via a penalty shootout, with David Raya saving two spot kicks and Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, and Declan Rice converting their penalties to send Arsenal to the quarter-finals for the first time in 14 years.
Ferdinand acknowledged that some critics might argue that reaching the quarter-finals is not the ultimate achievement, but he empathized with the feeling of overcoming such a hurdle. He believes that Arsenal’s progress signifies a changing dynamic within the team and anticipates that once they secure silverware, they will become a formidable force to reckon with.