BREAKING NEWS: coming from Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal legend Ian Wright has wasted no time in blasting the performance of arsenal against Porto in the Champions League. He said ” watching how Porto got the best out arsenal was really frustrating, he Arteta tactics yesterday was poor, welcome to the Europa League. in my own honest assessment arsenal is not a champions league team”.
Arsenal faced an unexpected setback with a 1-0 loss against FC Porto, the two-time Champions League winners, in the opening leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 showdown on February 21. This defeat halted Arsenal’s impressive winning streak in 2024, which had seen them triumph in five consecutive matches against Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, West Ham United, and Burnley. Despite their recent success, Arsenal entered the match as favorites against Porto, marking their first Champions League knockout stage appearance since 2017.
FC Porto, guided by manager Sergio Conceicao, employed a strategic approach aimed at frustrating Arsenal, a tactic that proved effective as they contained Arsenal’s attack and limited them to zero shots on target for the majority of the game. The Portuguese side’s defensive solidity was reminiscent of their UEFA Champions League triumph under Jose Mourinho in 2004, showcasing a disciplined performance that even Mourinho himself would likely have commended.
The disappointment among Arsenal fans was palpable, with some expressing their frustration on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter). Criticism centered around Arsenal’s perceived inability to deliver in crucial matches, with mentions of their failure to progress beyond the last 16 stage in their previous seven attempts.
FC Porto’s victory was built on a well-executed game plan, anchored by the experienced duo of Pepe and goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who marshaled the defense effectively. Despite missing a chance in the first half, Wenderson Galeno redeemed himself with a sublime curling shot in the 94th minute, securing Porto’s win. With the tie now poised for the return leg in London on March 12, Arsenal faces a daunting task to overturn the deficit and advance in the competition.
