ARSENAL LOST BECAUSE THEY LACKED CHAMPIONS LEAGUE EXPERIENCE, CLAIMS ARTETA

Arsenal’s Champions League loss to Porto on Wednesday was caused in part by a lack of experience in Europe’s premier club competition, but manager Mikel Arteta stated the North London team will grow from the 1-0 loss.

Galeno’s goal in the 94th minute condemned Arsenal to defeat, even though they had the better of the possession in the first leg of the round of 16 match. Arsenal was unable to get a chance on goal for the entire evening.

Arsenal’s first Champions League knockout match under Arteta took place at the Estadio Do Dragao on Wednesday, marking the team’s sixth season back in Europe’s top league, which it previously participated in in 2016–17.

“Especially in the first half, we lacked purpose to have much more aggression, to break lines, to play forward, to generate much more threat in their backline,” Arteta told reporters, despite the fact that his team “really dominated the game.”

“We created a lot of situations without really learning anything from them in the second half, but there were a lot better things in the second half that we’ll learn from.”

In response to the question of whether Arsenal’s inexperience in the Champions League may have contributed to their late goal conceded, Arteta responded, “It’s only the last ball.”

It’s true that it has had a significant influence on the outcome, but I believe it is a bit harsh to condemn it if in 94 minutes we hadn’t had the naivete in that one.

“A lot of other things they did here for the first time were excellent.”

On Saturday, Arsenal will play host to Newcastle United in the Premier League. On March 12 at the Emirates, it takes on Porto in the second leg.