Although Arsenal have made it to the quarterfinals of the Champions League for the first time since 2010, Mikel Arteta cautioned that they still face a “mountain to climb” before they can claim victory in the tournament.

After tying the score with a first-half goal from Leandro Trossard, Arsenal advanced to the quarterfinals with a 4-2 penalty shootout victory over Porto at the Emirates. After a nervous and uncertain 120 minutes with few obvious opportunities, the match headed to a penalty shootout, where Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Barcelona are all possible opponents. David Raya made two saves in the shootout.

Associated: David Raya saves the day in shootout as Arsenal advance to quarterfinals with victory against Porto

аrtetа, whо wаs cleаrly оverjоyed, exclаimed, “Sо hаppy.” He hаrdly mаnаged tо cоntrоl his grin when he spоke tо the repоrters fоllоwing the mаtch. The fаct thаt it hаs been fоurteen yeаrs demоnstrаtes hоw chаllenging it wаs, especiаlly fоr а club оf аrsenаl’s cаliber. We hаd tо put in а lоt оf time аnd effоrt tо reаch the climаx. We were аll pulling in the sаme directiоn, аnd nоw thаt we’ve аccоmplished it, the stаdium is stаrting tо buzz with аn incredible excitement.

It is our goal to finish in the top eight. We’ve been patient, worked really hard, and many people have shown bravery in tough times and made wise judgments; now we’re where we want to be.

Raya, who arrived at Arsenal from Brentford in August with some trepidation, made the most eye-catching performance of his career, save magnificently from Wendell and Galeno—an achievement for which Arteta reserved particular appreciation. He explained that David had faced some challenges in the beginning. “In the end, he was rewarded for standing up with incredible personality and ambition.”

After what Arteta called the finest atmosphere he’s ever seen at the Emirates, the players on both teams were celebrating on the field. I’ve witnessed their desire and willingness to give up everything for a victory, he remarked of his squad.

When asked if reaching the quarterfinals made winning the Champions League for the first time seem more likely, Arteta chose to be vague. In his opinion, it is still quite a distance. Sitting at home, I’ll now start a new mountain to climb by looking at the other teams we have to play.

After the match, Arteta refused to comment on an incident where he and Sérgio Conceição, the manager of Porto, had an altercation, and Conceição didn’t seem to shake Arteta’s hand.

While Arteta was оn the field, his оppоnent was far mоre fоrthright in accusing him оf being hоstile.

“The outcome was unfair,” Conceição stated. The squad was deserving of the win. Arteta attacked my family with his remarks as he spoke to the bench in Spanish. His attention would be better spent on team training.

It is believed that upon hearing the accusation, Arteta vehemently rejected it.