Quote from: Dzwaafu11 on Today at 06:53:24 AM

Quote from: Hyphen(-) on February 23, 2024, 11:26:06 PM

Quote from: Stepstowealth on February 23, 2024, 07:58:37 PM

Arsenal were still good against Porto it's just that they did not win the game, their performance was not enough. It is not something new, sometimes the better teams in a game is not always the team that wins the game. Arsenal just have to not let that defeat affect the other games they have by spoiling their confidence.
Manchester United striker Hojlund who was already making news and building confidence in the league will have to rest some weeks like two or three. It is a blow for Manchester United because they are on the charge to secure champions league qualification, for a player like Hojlund who has scored in consecutive games recently, having him not fit is a hope killer.

Arsenal were very good in the match, they played very well but they lack experienced players and as a result of that Porto used their Champions League experience and home advantage to win the game because Arsenal were so relaxed at the end. This is not the end of it because I am very sure that Arsenal can win them in the second leg.

Exactly. To me I even think Arsenal took that defeat they faced in the first leg as a mistake that will be corrected in the second leg, I believe, because the first leg with Porto is that Porto really used their experience players and I think everyone was relax that Porto are not strong so they will concur them easily, or let me say they used players with average experience of playing in the Champions League, so for the second leg they will try all their best to beat them; they won’t relax as they did in the first leg; furthermore, Arsenal are going to play at home in the second leg, so I believe they won’t make any mistake that will make those guys beat them, so let’s wait and see what they will do, but I know that they won’t do anything that will make them lose to Porto again.

What i understood is that Arteta knows that the returning leg will be very dangerous. That Arsenal would win with enough goals. His priority was to focus on playing Newcastle today. So he reserved his players for this match. I could remember very well that Newcastle defeated Arsenal in their previous EPL meetings with one goal lead. I felt they rubbed the game although. Now Arteta dont want any loop hole anymore he needs all his players ready and fit for the match today.

A lot of Arsenal fans understand this strategy from Mikel Arteta because it has worked so well. We saw that against Lens. First leg they won 2:1 but returning Arsenal dealt with them about 6:0. Football is practically logical at times. You dont send all your first team players into the field when the match is not one that should be taken serious.