Arsenal were stunned by FC Porto in the Champions League last-16 first-leg with one pundit highlighting a less-than-stellar display from the usually-imperious William Saliba.
In truth, very few of Mikel Arteta’s players performed to the peak of their powers at the Estadio do Dragao. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli were limited to a peripheral role by a hard-working and disciplined Porto side.
Martin Odegaard was strangely quiet. Even Declan Rice, the picture of consistency, saw his impact restricted, the usual aggression he brings to proceedings limited by an early yellow card.
William Saliba, arguably the most in-form defender in English football, was far from his usually imperious best either, flat-flooted for that early Galeno chance and putting his side under pressure with a couple of misplaced passes.
Arsenal stars struggle in FC Porto defeat
“I’m not sure he’s looked himself tonight,” Ally McCoist mused in his co-commentary role for TNT Sport.
Of course, off-nights like this can and do happen. The frustration for Arteta, however, is that almost every one of his Arsenal stars – with the possible exception of Gabriel Magalhaes – endured an off-night at exactly the same time, ineffectiveness spreading like plague throughout a Gunners side who had scored 11 goals in their previous two games but did not even muster a shot on target here.
“Saliba seems a bit off it so far,” Arsenal reporter Charles Watts writes on X. “(The Frenchman) keeps getting caught out a bit, misjudging a few things.”
Galeno’s outrageous 94th minute winner – curled beautifully past a flying David Raya – means Arsenal must come from behind in the return leg at the Emirates on March 12th. A victory by two clear goals is required if the London giants are to end their 14-year wait for a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Mikel Arteta frustrated
“It’s tough to play here. They are really well organised and we have some problems, especially in the first-half to attack much better,” Arteta tells the Arsenal website.
“But when we had total control, dominance of the game and we looked to be more of a threat, play more in the final third, generate I think 10 or 12 corners, we didn’t make enough of that.
“And then the way we gave the ball away, especially in those deep areas in the Champions League, you pay the price and now it’s just half-time. It’s clear what we have to do. Now, it’s more clear than before. You want to be in the quarter-finals, you have to beat the opponent and, we’re going prepare that for our supporters to have a real go.”
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