Champions League: Mikel Arteta Criticises His Team for Conceding Last Minute Goal vs Porto

• Mikel Arteta was fuming after Arsenal’s defeat to Porto
• The Gunners conceded a last-minute goal in Portugal
• Arteta accused his side of ‘giving the game away’

Mikel Arteta was an irate figure after his Arsenal side suffered a 1-0 defeat to FC Porto in the Champions League last 16 first leg.

Porto scored a 94th-minute winner at the Estádio do Dragão through a curled strike by winger Wenderson Galano, who took a few touches before unleashing his effort past David Raya.

It was no more than what the home side deserved, as they looked threatening for large parts of the game, with Galeno hitting the post in the first half.

Arsenal, who looked lacklustre for most of the game, barely threatened and thought they had come away with a precious draw ahead of the second leg at the Emirates.

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Despite dominating possession, the Gunners failed to muster a single shot on target, with their closest glance at goal coming from William Saliba and Kai Havertz’s headers from corner kicks.

What Arteta said

After the match, Arteta did not mince his words, calling out his side for lacking tenacity.

“I am very disappointed with the way we gave the game away at the end,” he said, per The Guardian.

“Not managing that situation well enough. You get punished in the Champions League. If you cannot win it, you don’t lose it.

According to the Arsenal boss, his team lacked purpose, particularly in the first half and despite improvements after the break, it wasn’t enough.

He added: “In the second half there were much better things, and we ­generated a lot of situations, without really ­creating much from it. We will learn from it."

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Arsenal will hope to turn things around in the second leg, which takes place on March 12. As it stands, however, they are en route to exiting the competition in the last 16 stage for the sixth time in a row, per BBC.

What next for Arsenal?

The Gunners will have to put their Champions League disappointment behind them fast as they face another tough outing in the Premier League against Newcastle United on Saturday, February 24.

Liverpool complete another comeback

In other news, Arsenal’s title rivals Liverpool completed yet another comeback, coming from behind to beat Luton Town 4-1 on Wednesday.

As Sports Brief reported, the Reds now top the list of teams that have won the most points from losing positions with 22 points, four ahead of their closest rivals Manchester City, who have claimed 18 points from losing positions in the 2023/24 campaign.