Arteta demands better from Arsenal after recent defeat

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has furiously told his players that they have to do better after Wednesday’s disappointing 1-0 loss to FC Porto in Portugal in the first leg of the round of 16 encounter in the UEFA Champions League.

Arsenal were dominated for the majority of the encounter, and it performed disappointingly for one of the top three contenders for the Premier League this season. The home side, FC Porto, dominated the entirety of the game, going close to opening the scoring in the first half through the eventual goalscorer.

Galeno eventually scored the winner late into stoppage time at the end of the game, but the brilliance of his effort ruined Arsenal’s conservative approach to the game, and Arteta admits to beating the Portuguese; his players should learn from their first-leg errors.

“We have to manage much better. We cannot win with the way we handled the ball on three occasions in deep areas. If you want to be in the quarter-finals, you have to beat your opponent, and this is what we will have to do at the Emirates now. We lacked threat. We lacked aggression, especially with the ball in the final third. We can do better. We will learn from it. Now it is clear, it is half-time,” said Arteta.

The Gunners will host Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday and use the opportunity of Liverpool’s none-appearance on the Premier League match-day to catch up with the Reds in the title race.

The North Londoners will travel to Sheffield United and host Brentford, all in the Premier League, before their must-win second leg on March 12.

Meanwhile, injury-stricken Liverpool will face Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. The final is a chance for Liverpool to kick start their chance of a local treble if they win.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side could get into Europe next season through the back door if they emerge as winners.