FC Porto boss Sergio Conceicao was delighted with his side as they succeeded in keeping Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli quiet during Wednesday’s dramatic 1-0 Champions League last-16 win at the Estadio do Dragao.
After the goalscoring feast that was Arsenal’s 6-0 and 5-0 shellackings of West Ham United and Burnley came the famine.
Mikel Arteta’s side did not find the net in Portugal and, in truth, they never looked like doing so. A coach who has often been likened to a young Jose Mourinho masterminding a stirring defensive display the old master himself would have been proud of.
Arsenal stunned in Porto as Galeno scores late winner
“I am satisfied with the work of our players,” Conceicao tells TVI after Arsenal dangermen Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli found themselves forced onto the periphery.
“(My players) interpreted the game plan perfectly against a team that, offensively, has above average players. There was a lot of solidity on our part. We didn’t allow Arsenal to shoot close to our goal.
“(Kai) Havertz and (Martin) Odegaard fall into the space between the lines, but we didn’t allow that much. They tried to exploit Martinelli and Saka’s speed, but we were very competent. They are very strong at different moments of the game. And we had to be an intense team.”
Arsenal failed to test home goalkeeper Diogo Costa even once, the highly-rated Portugal international also commanding his area brilliantly as he limited the visitor’s set-piece threat with a series of impressive claims.
Galeno’s stunning 94th minute winner, meanwhile, means Arsenal have it all to do in the return leg at the Emirates three weeks from now.
Sergio Conceicao outmuscles Mikel Arteta
“We can’t forget we are halfway through, with 90-something minutes to go,” adds Conceicao. “But the players should be happy for what they have done. We had little time to work, but we worked very focused, with a lot of determination and knowing the opponent’s strengths, with our usual humility.
“We didn’t allow the opponent to explore situations where they are very strong. Arsenal had more ball, but we were more dangerous.
“The wings are one of Arsenal’s strengths and we did very well. In the midfield, we also conditioned them a lot. The players followed the strategy for this game perfectly.”
Arsenal have not reached the quarter finals of the Champions League since 2009/10. But if you want a good omen Gunners fans, the last time you reached the final eight, Arsenal bounced back from a first-leg defeat by none other than FC Porto in the round-of-16 before thrashing the Iberian giants 5-0 in the return fixture.
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