Shock stat shows how lucky Arsenal were to scrape past Porto and reach first Champions League quarter-final in 14 years

ARSENAL’S bleak four shots on target across both Champions League legs against Porto left a lot to be desired.

The Gunners claimed a dramatic 4-2 penalty shootout victory after David Raya’s double save allowed them to scrape through to Friday’s draw.

RexArsenal were limited to a few attempts on target across both legs[/caption]

Spot-kicks were needed to settle the tie after Leandro Trossard’s first-half strike levelled the aggregate score to 1-1.

But Mikel Arteta’s side were far from their usual best.

The numbers confirmed that the Gunners were limited to only four shots on target across both games.

And to make matters worse, all of them came on Tuesday’s ugly and tense affair at the Emirates.

The hosts could only hit two on target attempts in each half of the second leg.

After failing to challenge keeper Diogo Costa three weeks ago, Arsenal were again frustrated by Porto for long periods.

Their 4-5-1 block was rarely penetrated, and it took a world-class pass from Martin Odegaard to finally put them on the scoreboard after 130 minutes of trying.

That – and Odegaard’s disallowed goal – were the only times Arsenal were able to force the ball past the keeper across two games, plus extra time, before the shootout.

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This is a far cry from their blissful domestic form which has left them top of the Premier League.

The Gunners have scored an incredible 34 goals during a run of eight successive league wins – which amounts to an average of almost 4.5 goals per game.

Their current league tally stands at 68 – the most in the division and the most Arsenal have ever had at this stage of a campaign in the Premier League era.

And yet, less than three months ago, boss Mikel Arteta was under serious pressure to finally splash out on an elite No9 to take the North London club to the next level.

Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard have all stood up in that time, nabbing 24 goals between them since January 1.

But fans noticed Saka’s quiet night against Wendell on Tuesday – although the England international did get the better of him in the shoot-out.

Arsenal had been knocked out at the last-16 stage in their last seven appearances in the competition.

One fan wrote: “Arsenal had the same number of shots on target in the penalty shoot-out (4), as they did in 180 minutes over the two legs against Porto (not including extra time).”

While another tweeted: “Over 210 minutes of football, free-scoring Arsenal managed to get 4 shots on target against Porto. All 4 came tonight at home. Sergio Conceicao, ladies & gents.”

The Gunners will be grateful their meeting with Chelsea initially scheduled for this weekend has been postponed.

The Blues will face Championship leaders Leicester in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday.