Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta gave a brutally honest verdict on his own players following their Champions League defeat to Porto.
The Gunners conceded a stunning 94th-minute goal to lose 1-0 in the first leg of the last-16 tie in Lisbon on Wednesday.
Porto had the better of the chances in the first half and somehow didn’t take the lead when Galeno’s effort came back off the post.
The second half appeared to be edging towards a drab conclusion, with both teams seemingly satisfied with a goalless draw.
Mikel Arteta saw his Arsenal side lose 1-0 to Porto in the Champions League
Getty
But Galeno popped up in the fourth minute of added time with a superb long-range effort which curled over goalkeeper David Raya.
Arsenal gave the ball away moments before the shot, failing to manage the game in the final stages.
Arteta was not happy with how his players let slip what would have been a valuable draw.
Asked what he told the squad after the match, Arteta told TNT Sports: “Obviously that we have to manage much better when you cannot win.
“The way we handled the ball on three occasions in deep areas, it’s not good enough.
“And then it is half-time, we want to be in the quarter-finals, you have to beat your opponent. And that is what we have to do at the Emirates now.”
Arsenal will welcome Porto to the Emirates on March 12, needing to overturn a 1-0 deficit to reach the quarter-final stage.
When pressed on what was lacking from his team, Arteta added: “We lacked threat, we lacked much more threat, more aggression, especially when we had the ball in the final third.
“Especially in the back as well, more purpose to hurt them. So we will tweak a few things to attack better especially. We can do better.”
Arteta also felt that Porto made it difficult for his team with how they managed the tempo of the game.
He said: “It’s a team that’s very well organised defensively and they break your rhythm all the time.
“It was 35, 37 fouls in the game, so allowing that as well is not good enough.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Arsenal conceded a late goal to lose 1-0 in the first leg of the last-16 tie
Getty
“And there are certain things that we will have to do much better.
“We play at home, we know now, we know them, and we know what to expect.
“We couldn’t even touch anybody because everything was a free kick. But as well we will learn from that, prepare better and go and do it.”
Declan Rice agreed with his manager that the team should have managed the final stages well enough and saw out the draw.
Gelano scored from long range to ensure Porto take a 1-0 lead to north London
Getty
Rice said: “When it’s 0-0, you look up at the clock and it’s 93 minutes gone, if you aren’t going to win the game then don’t lose it.
“Maybe have the bit of savviness about us to stay in and get a draw in a tough stadium against a tough opponent. A lot to play for in the second leg.
“There were a couple of giveaways on the edge of our box. They caught us on the counter and he’s stuck one in the top corner which is really disappointing.
“We’re really positive as a group, we’ve had such a good start to 2024 that we’re not going to let this get us down. We’ll address this game.”
Post comments (0)