Arsenal faces a tough battle to keep their UEFA Champions League hopes alive following a first-leg loss against Porto in Portugal.
With a one-goal deficit to overturn, Arsenal will be aiming for a comeback in the second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 clash against Porto at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.
Porto secured a 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the first leg, courtesy of Galeno’s late strike, giving them a crucial advantage heading into the decisive match.
Mikel Arteta is counting on his team to replicate their impressive league form in Europe. Despite their recent Champions League struggles, Arsenal is on an eight-game winning streak in the Premier League and currently sits atop the table.
Arteta urged the club’s supporters to bring their energy and passion to the stadium, emphasizing the importance of their role in achieving success in the Champions League.
Arteta, while speaking at a pre-match press conference hinted at tweaking his tactics ahead of tomorrow’s game.
“We are certainly going to have to tweak a few things to generate much more than what we did against them,” Arteta said.
“It’s the level of the Champions League; you’re facing top teams, the fact that there are two games as well plays on your mind and we’re going to have to be better tomorrow.|
The former Manchester City assistant manager emphasised the importance of harnessing the energy of the home crowd, urging fans to infuse the stadium with unrestrained passion and noise.
“This stadium is going to have the energy that you have never seen in your life,” Arteta declared, highlighting the opportunity for fans to play an important role in helping their team to victory.
“Bring your noise, bring your energy, your passion to that stadium, and something beautiful is going to happen.”
Arsenal’s track record in the Champions League Round of 16 have not been favourable, with only one win in their last nine matches at this stage.
Failure to secure a two-goal victory could result in their eighth consecutive elimination at this stage.
In head-to-head encounters, Arsenal and Porto have had a balanced record, each winning three games, with one draw. The upcoming clash will determine which team gains the upper hand in their rivalry.
For Arsenal, reaching the Champions League quarter-finals would mark a significant achievement, considering their past struggles in the competition. However, they face a tough task against Porto, who have a history of resilience in away knockout games.
While Porto has only won two of their 22 away games in the Champions League knockout stages, they are unbeaten in their last six matches across all competitions, indicating their strength as a formidable opponent.
With both teams eager to progress to the next round, Tuesday’s match promises to be a thrilling encounter as Arsenal looks to defy the odds and keep their Champions League dreams alive.
