Champions League: Porto stuns shot-shy Arsenal to take first leg advantage

Arsenal's mentality questioned after loss to Porto; Arteta seeks turnaround in crucial home games.

Gelano celebrates after powering Porto into a 1-0 first leg win over Arsenal at the Estadio do Dragao. (Photo credit: 90Mins)

Arsenal lost at Porto on Wednesday night to raise important questions about their mentality going into a run of crucial games, but their manager, Mikel Arteta, insists it’s just a blip.

"We had to manage the game better when you can't win," Mikel Arteta said. "We lacked threat and aggression in the final third, and we need to tweak a few things. We can do better." If you want to be in the quarterfinals, you have to beat your opponent, and this is what we will have to do at the Emirates now."

The Gunners had scored 21 goals in four games but suddenly forgot how to shoot at the Estadio Do Dragao in Portugal; the game was cagey for most of it, only for the hosts to stun their visitors with a wonder strike right at the death.

It was a game that looked destined for a draw. Arsenal didn’t manage anything at the other end outside tame headers from Kai Havertz and William Saliba; controlling the game was one thing, breaking down the opposition was another.

After Galeno curled one in in the 95^th minute, Arsenal knew there was only one way back: a convincing win at home. They can take solace in the fact that Porto hardly earns anything on English soil, and the last time Arsenal got a big win at home in the knockout phase of the UCL, it was against Porto.

Now, look away, Arsenal fans. Mikel Arteta is yet to win a single knockout phase game at home; all his previous knockout games in the Europa League ended in draws and narrow losses. Something must change in a fortnight.