Arsenal suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat against FC Porto at the Estadio do Dragao in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16.
Despite entering the match with a strong run of form, having won their last five games, Arsenal struggled to find their rhythm against Porto. Mikel Arteta fielded the same lineup as their previous match, aiming to maintain momentum. However, both teams started cautiously, focusing on patient build-up play from the back.
While Arsenal dominated possession in the first half, they struggled to create clear-cut chances in Porto’s penalty area. Their four first-half shots failed to hit the target, highlighting their lack of cutting edge. Meanwhile, Porto came close to scoring through Wenderson Galeno, who struck the post with a powerful volley.
At halftime, the score remained 0-0, with both teams unable to break the deadlock. In the second half, Arsenal continued to struggle offensively, with Porto growing more assertive in possession. Despite their efforts, Arsenal failed to register a shot on target in the second half.
As the match seemed destined for a goalless draw, Galeno delivered a stunning curling effort in the dying moments, securing a 1-0 victory for Porto with virtually the last kick of the game.
Arsenal will be eager to bounce back in the return leg on March 12. Now, let’s assess the player ratings from this challenging encounter.
