Following Arsenal’s disappointing 0-1 loss against Porto in the UEFA Champions League round-of-16 first leg, Mikel Arteta emphasized the need for improvement in key areas. The Gunners struggled to create chances during the match, ultimately conceding to Wenderson Galeno’s late goal in injury time (90+4′).
Despite registering seven attempts, Arsenal failed to find the target, while Porto managed eight shots, testing goalkeeper David Raya twice. Reflecting on the match, Arteta commented (via Metro):
“We have to manage much better. We cannot win with the way we handled the ball on three occasions in deep areas, it’s not good enough.
If you want to be in the quarter-finals you have to beat your opponent and this is what we will have to do at the Emirates now.”
“We lacked threat. We lacked aggression, especially with the ball in the final third. We can do better. We will learn from that, prepare better, and go and do it.”
Arsenal will now shift their focus to the Premier League, where they will face Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday (February 24). As they continue to vie for the title, the Gunners are currently positioned third in the league, trailing leaders Liverpool by five points, with a game in hand.
