SHOCKING NEWS: Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has slammed the team’s tactics after their 1-0 defeat to Porto in the Champions League. Henry, who played for Arsenal for eight years, was unimpressed with the team’s performance and accused them of being unclear on what they were trying to do. Henry said “the players looked confused and unsure of their roles on the pitch. It was clear they cost the team that match with their silly mistake, you can’t be playing against Porto and be making such mistakes they will get the best part of you”. Henry Hits Out at Arsenal’s ‘Unclear’ Tactics After ‘Shocking’ European Defeat.
Thierry Henry has criticized Gabriel Martinelli and David Raya for their roles in Arsenal’s 0-1 defeat to Porto in the UEFA Champions League on February 21. Despite a successful run in the group stages, Arsenal stumbled in the knockout phase, conceding a late goal to Porto’s Galeno.
Martinelli’s errant long-range pass to Bukayo Saka in the dying moments resulted in Porto gaining possession, leading to Galeno’s decisive strike from outside the box. Henry, speaking on CBS Sports, attributed blame to Martinelli for losing possession needlessly and to Raya for failing to stop Galeno’s shot. He remarked, “You lose that ball, one minute to go, this is where away from home in Europe, you have to be a bit more clear on what you do. That’s a cheap lost ball on the counter-attack.” Regarding Raya, he added, “I am not a goalkeeper, but he is missing the one step to be able to control his feet. He jumped too early.”
Looking ahead, Arsenal will face Newcastle United in the Premier League at the Emirates on Sunday, February 25.
In contrast, Henry praised Declan Rice for his standout performance against Porto. He highlighted Rice’s importance to Mikel Arteta’s squad and commended the midfielder for his defensive contributions, particularly his ability to maintain composure despite receiving an early yellow card. Henry emphasized Rice’s role in blocking shots and maintaining defensive stability throughout the game, emphasizing his significance to the team. He noted, “Him stopping what people don’t notice at times. What I like is he took a yellow after two minutes and he stayed in the game. You will see, you can see him here. He blocks the shot. But at the beginning he is looking at what is happening here [on the edge of the box].” Henry concluded by reaffirming Rice’s importance to Arsenal, stating, “He did it so many times in the game. With a yellow. That’s not an easy one, this is why he’s so important for the team.”
