Arsenal ‘s Champions League quarter-finals were what Mikel Arteta described as another “big step” for the club.
It’s a huge step forward because it’s the first time the club has done this in 14 years.
Over the past 14 years, Arsenal have suffere repeate disappointments, being eliminate at the last 16 stage seven times in a row.
2011: Lost to Barcelona
2012: Lost to AC Milan
2013: Lost to Bayern Munich
2014: Lost to Bayern Munich
2015: Lost to Monaco
2016: Lost to Barcelona
2017: Lost to Bayern Munich
The Gunners are good enough to get through the group stage, but when they are drawn against Bayern Munich or Barcelona in the knockout round, they can expect to “fail”. Or in some years, they think they are lucky to meet Monaco, but the result is the same as usual, they are eliminated.
The Champions League last 16 is a steep wall that Arsenal have never been able to climb over in recent times, and it has become a nightmare time and time again.
In his return to the Big Ear Cup after a six-year absence, Arteta led the team through the group stage without difficulty and faced Porto as a test of the curse.
The risk of another exit in the round of 16 is quite high after Porto won the first leg 1-0.
Arsenal need to win the second leg at home. With no other conditions to choose from, while Porto need only a draw to reach the quarter-finals.
Back in the first leg, Arsenal failed to put pressure or create much danger for Porto. Throughout the 90 minutes, they had only 7 shots and not a single one was on target.
Porto’s defense was strong and they were in good position. Arsenal had to wait until the 33rd minute to get their first shot. The game was sluggish and not smooth. Unlike their league form where they kept shooting at their opponents until they won continuously.
Arsenal’s challenge in the second leg is to attack the Portuguese visitors more and break down the defense of the team. That has conceded the fewest goals in the Portuguese league.
Arteta opted for Jorginho to play as a central midfielder. Who was only a substitute in the first game for Arsenal when the former Chelsea man was a substitute. There were no through balls or crosses for Arsenal. With Porto pushing him wide and then crowding Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
Porto knew that Arsenal would use Jorginho to penetrate inside. So they packed the midfield tighter and took turns to foul the Italian midfielder to prevent him from passing the ball easily.