Mikel Arteta said Arsenal will be better prepared for the second leg against Porto, after losing 1-0 at the Estádio do Dragão in the first leg of Champions League round of 16.
Arsenal could only produce seven shots, none of which were on target in what was a frustrating evening for Arteta and his side in Porto.
The hosts were well organised and Sérgio Conceição side’s nullified Arsenal’s attack, which had scored 11 goals in their last two away games against West Ham and Burnley coming into the game. Their attacking flair was not on display, and their best chances were from corners as their 65% possession in the game produced very little.
At 0-0 Arteta would perhaps have settled for a draw but Galeno’s stunner in the 94th minutes means Arsenal overturn a one-goal deficit at the Emirates on March 12.
Arteta praised Porto’s defensive performance but believed his side could not touch the opposition players without giving away a free kick. He added that they are now accustomed to Porto’s style of play and will be better equipped in the reverse tie.
Arteta said: “We have to manage it much better. When you cannot win, the way we handled the ball on three occasions in deep areas is not good enough.
“But it’s half-time, if you want to get to the quarter-finals, you have to beat your opponent. And that’s what we have to do at the Emirates now.
“It is a team that is very well organised defensively. They break your rhythm all the time, there were like 35 or 37 fouls in the game.
“So allowing that as well is not good enough and there are certain things we have to do much better. We play them at home, we know them now, we know them. We know what to expect.
“We couldn’t even touch anybody, because everything was a free-kick. We will learn from that, prepare better and go and do it.”
