By Maël Chrétien
Published on 02/21/2024 at 11:51 p.m., Updated on 02/22/2024 at 10:08 a.m.
Galeno surprised Odegaard and his band. REUTERS / PETER NUNES / Action Images via Reuters / PETER CZIBORRA
Porto surprised Arsenal at the end of added time thanks to a sumptuous goal from Galeno (1-0). Find out what caught the editorial attention.
TOPS
Galeno turned on the light
Galeno was the only ray of sunshine during these long and painful 90 minutes. However, he initially missed in the first half. In two stages, he hit the post, then missed the target on the only very clear chance of the match, until the last minute… The Gunners block is unbalanced following Martinelli’s loss of the ball, and Galeno in took the opportunity to advance alone in front of the surface, before curling a sumptuous strike into Raya’s small net, brilliant. It was a long wait, but this goal was worth it.
Pepe, (almost) 41 years old and all his teeth
Yes we are talking regarding Pepe, the one from Real Madrid who many think no longer plays football. This evening once more, and once morest a European leader in the round of 16 of the Champions League, the Portuguese delivered. The Dragaos captain led his defense to a clean sheet, being almost flawless in the duels, and even in the restart. On February 26, Pepe will celebrate his 41st birthday. He has already given himself quite a gift, with a prestigious victory once morest Arsenal in the most beautiful of competitions.
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FLOPS
Gunners lacking ammunition
Saka, Martinelli, Trossard, Havertz and Odegaard, these five made Arsenal happy in their last two victories 5 and 6-0 ( once morest West Ham and Burnley). But in Porto, the five Gunners were out of fuel facing the wall erected in front of Diogo Costa’s cage. Lacking inspiration, the wingers refused to play 1 once morest 1 in the opposing final third and lacked the madness to light the fuse of the cannon on the Arsenal coat of arms. In 90 minutes, the London attackers did not target a single shot. They might have played for a long time without finding the crack in a well-protected Portuguese fortress.
10 corners, 10 failures…
In a match where Arsenal failed to worry their opponent, it was only the set pieces that might have smiled on Arteta’s men. And that’s good, since this season corners and free kicks are one of their great strengths. But this European night was an exception. 10 times from corners, and a few others from free kicks, the combination remained the same, Saka, Odegaard and Rice insisted at length, in vain. They constantly looked for the far post, and the heads of Saliba and Gabriel marked in the pants by Otavio and Pepe. Diogo Costa remained vigilant, and only had to seize the opposing crosses by hand. No questioning appeared, and the English persisted in trying this trick.