What a game!
More drama than Oppenheimer, with a slightly shorter runtime.
After Robert Downey Jnr's win at the Oscars this week for his performance in Christopher Nolan's masterpiece there was a plan to try shoehorn a Kim Kardashian comeback joke in right away (if you know, you know, if not ... https://youtu.be/qQseDjVp10I?si=gyZbA8qEvibtczi0) but this felt more like Samuel Beckett night (the guy from Quantum Leap, not the Irish writer).
Arsenal went back 'to put right what once went wrong' against Porto on Tuesday night after they were stunned 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash by the Portugal side, a game they dominated but, somehow, couldn't muster a shot on target.
But like the 1980s TV classic, things didn't go smoothly ...
The Gunners have made a stunning start to 2024 and currently lead the English Premier League on goal difference, a remarkable comeback (dammit!) after they were written off after juggernauts Manchester City and Liverpool surged out in front.
Their only blemish this calendar year is the late defeat at Estádio do Dragão on 21 February.
Arsenal have started the year with nine straight wins in the league to and overtake the Reds and Citizens (imagine bottling that feeling) but knew that they needed to deliver at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday to book their place in the quarter-finals of a competition that they have never won.
They eventually got the job done on penalties (4-2) after winning 1-0 on the night.
It was not a classic match by any stretch of the imagination but it was breathless and full of intrigue.
The Gunners were looking for a fast start but Porto's disciplined tactics didn't allow for the early goal that they desperately craved.
Getting back on level terms as quickly as possible would have settled the nerves of the players and fans but as the first half went on the tension rose as the visitors enjoyed more of the ball and the crowd was quietened.
They roared back to life in the 41st minute though when a fluid Arsenal move saw Martin Ødegaard slip through a sublime ball for Leandro Trossard to slot home and level the scores on aggregate.
The skipper threaded the needle with a brilliant pass through the Porto defence and the Belgian left winger made no mistake, coolly finishing in the bottom right corner of Diogo Costa's goal.
It was the first (and only) time that the Porto backline had made a mistake all night and the home side took advantage.
Arsenal took control in the second half with the crowd in full voice as they found their rhythm and tempo while using more controlled aggression going forward but the second goal simply wouldn't come.
When Arsenal, through Ødegaard, did have the ball in the back of the net the goal was disallowed for a soft foul, a decision that saw Mikel Arteta go into the referee's book for demanding a VAR check, which was denied.
This also gave the visiting supporters their voices back while the home fans seethed in silent anger.
In years past this would have been enough to break Arsenal but this team is made of sterner stuff and they continued to push for a winner to avoid the drama of extra-time and penalties.
But extra-time could not be avoided as the players were forced to endure another 30 minutes in each other's company, something neither side wanted as the match became more fractious.
With the players running on fumes and emotion it looked like a mistake rather than a moment of brilliance was going to win it but neither was forthcoming and the tie would be decided from 12 yards.
David Raya and Costa had both enjoyed reasonably quiet nights but both were now firmly in the spotlight with a chance to be the hero.
In the end it was Raya who came out on top as Ødegaard, Kai Haverts, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice netted and he saved from Brazilian Wendell and first leg hero Galeno to secure a spot in the last-eight for the Gunners.
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