In the aftermath of Arsenal’s setback against Porto in the Champions League last 16, manager Mikel Arteta remains resolute and optimistic.
Following their defeat at Porto in the Champions League last 16, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta acknowledges that the statistics may be unsettling, but he emphasizes his team’s determination to “learn” ahead of the second leg in north London. Despite conceding a late goal by Galeno, Arteta remains optimistic about Arsenal’s chances in the tie.
Arsenal’s track record in the Champions League quarter-finals dates back to 2009-10, and they have only won the first leg in one of their last 12 two-legged knockout ties in the competition, drawing two and losing nine. Returning to the Champions League for the first time since 2017, Arsenal displayed a performance that fell short of their usual standards at the Estadio do Dragao.
Arteta emphasizes the importance of learning from the defeat, considering it as a halftime moment in the tie. He reiterates the team’s purpose and plan to secure a spot in the quarter-finals by defeating their opponents.
“We will learn from it. Now it is clear, it is half-time,” said Arteta. “If you want to be in the quarter-finals you have to beat your opponent and that will be the purpose and the plan.”
Arsenal‘s record signing, Declan Rice, expresses confidence in witnessing a transformed team at Emirates Stadium in the upcoming fixture. He emphasizes the team’s resilience and determination to bounce back from the setback suffered in Porto.
Former Arsenal forward Theo Walcott, who scored 108 goals in a 13-year spell at Arsenal, analyzing the game on BBC Radio 5 Live, highlights the need for a prolific goalscorer in the team’s lineup. He questions Arteta’s trust in players beyond the starting XI, particularly noting the limited substitutions made during the match.
“We were speaking about the squad depth that Arsenal have before the game,” he said. “But now looking back, does Mikel Arteta trust the players outside of that starting XI? He only made one substitution tonight.”
Arsenal’s lack of a consistent goal scorer comes under scrutiny again, with Walcott suggesting the inclusion of a player like Brentford’s Ivan Toney could enhance their attacking threat. Toney, whose contract expires at the end of the next season, has been linked with a potential move to Arsenal.
Martin Keown, a former Arsenal defender, characterized the defeat as a “sucker punch” for Arsenal during an appearance on TNT Sports. Expressing concern over the outcome, he hoped that the loss wouldn’t have lasting repercussions for the team.
Keown suggested that the defeat might be attributed to a lack of experience, noting that the team appeared cautious throughout the match. He pondered whether this cautiousness stemmed from inexperience and emphasized the importance of Arsenal learning from the harsh lessons of the game.
“Maybe it comes down to experience, I hope it doesn’t come back to haunt them,” he said. “It was a harsh lesson for Arteta and his team tonight. The handbrake was on a little too much – was that inexperience? They need to hold that hurt now. Porto contained Arsenal.”
Meanwhile, Neil Lennon, former Celtic manager, shared his perspective on BBC Radio 5 Live, expressing optimism about Arsenal’s chances of progressing to the quarter-final stage. Lennon believed that Arsenal performed reasonably well and assessed Porto’s narrow victory as insufficient for securing their advancement. He highlighted the unpredictability of football and commended Galeno’s remarkable goal, acknowledging Porto’s resilience in Champions League competition.
“I don’t think Arsenal did a lot wrong and I don’t think 1-0 will be enough for Porto going to the Emirates,” he said. “At 0-0 there is always that potential for a deflection or a wonder goal like we’ve seen tonight. It was a wonder strike from Galeno. The ultimate smash and grab, but Porto won’t care. That is Champions League football.”
In agreement with Lennon, Theo Walcott maintained a positive outlook regarding Arsenal’s prospects for advancement. He stressed the significance of considering the overall form of the team and the supportive atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium. Walcott expressed confidence that Arsenal, with their current form, could comfortably progress to the next stage, highlighting the dynamic nature of two-legged ties in European football.
“These ties aren’t won over one leg. I am confident that given Arsenal’s overall form at the moment and the atmosphere in the Emirates, they will still be able to go through quite comfortably.”
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