Arsenal will try to turn the situation around after losing 1st leg to Porto. However, to do that, the "Gunners" need to regain the form and the goal that made them a strong candidate before the match started.
Before Galeno's goal in the 94th minute, Arsenal were unusually frustrated, losing their already dynamic football. They failed to hit a target in a match for the first time since January 2022. That was a defeat to Nottingham Forest in the third round of the FA Cup and caused Arteta to flare up. The Spaniard was calmer against Porto, understanding that they still have a chance after three more weeks.
The exciting Emirates Stadium in the second leg will be a positive for Arsenal - just like Porto created a bustling atmosphere at Estadio by Dragao. However, it is important to note that the Gunners have not won a knockout match in the Champions League since 2015.
Only Arsenal players can truly answer the question of whether the "Gunners"' record of 7 consecutive losses in the round of 16 of the Champions League will weigh on their minds. Mohamed Elneny has been a member of Arsenal since their last appearance at this stage. That was a 2-10 final defeat to Bayern Munich in 2017.
And perhaps experience was the key factor that helped Arsenal fall to Porto. The "Gunners" starting lineup has only participated in the Champions League knockout round a total of 16. On the other side of the front line, center back Pepe alone has had 47 matches.
Therefore, the home team was very proficient in breaking the game. There have been 36 fouls, with 22 of those coming against Arsenal. That is a statistic that Arteta should consider.
" porto played very well, especially in defense. When we had sharp attacks, we couldn't make the most of it.
Every time we touch someone, it seems like a foul. But we will learn and do better," Arteta said after the match.
The winning goal was an excellent individual moment for Galeno and demonstrated Arsenal's panic. Gabriel Martinelli returned possession to Porto through a careless pass blocked by Otavio. Galeno then launched a great long-range shot that defeated David Raya in an attempt to stop Declan Rice's "invinciveness". Porto should have taken the lead in the first half when Galeno missed two good chances in just a few seconds.
Arsenal have recently played very flexibly in front of the opponent's goal, scoring 11 goals in 2 away matches against West Ham and Burnley. However, this was a match in which they felt they lacked options in attack. Gabriel Jesus scored 24 goals in 43 appearances in the Champions League but missed many opportunities against Porto.
Arteta once again decided not to trust Eddie Nketiah despite Trossard's poor performance. They made only one change when Jorginho replaced the former Brighton striker.
"I was very disappointed with the way we lost all our spirit in the extra time. If you can't win, don't lose.
We controlled the game, but lacked clarity to create many threats for the opponent's defense. This will be our lesson. If they want to reach the quarter-finals, Arsenal must beat Porto in the second leg," said the Spaniard.
With only 1 goal difference, Arsenal do not need to panic. But the question is, can Arteta's youth team play under pressure?
