Arsenal will have it all to do in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League fixture against FC Porto in March after a late stunning strike from Galeno secured a 1-0 victory for Porto over Arsenal in their UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg at the Estádio do Dragão.

The home side continued their strong home record with the result, which means they lost just one of their last 18 home matches in this competition. The Gunners entered the game-high in form in the Premier League in 2023/24. 

However, the home side enjoyed the first half in Porto, with the goalscorer Galeno hitting the woodwork from six yards and then placing the rebound off target. Nico González also blazed a shot over the bar from the edge of the box, while David Raya saved an Evanilson effort.

Mikel Arteta’s side only grew into the game in the second half, but Martin Ødegaard’s goal-bound strike hit Leandro Trossard in the penalty area before being cleared.

Trossard then had Arsenal’s best chance during the Gunners’ most promising spell, but he volleyed his first-time effort over the crossbar.

However, the game’s deciding moment was pure genius from Galeno, as the Portuguese attacker scored a curler from 20 yards out to snatch the win. Arteta and his men have work to do at the Emirates Stadium in two weeks’ time.

“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.” Arteta said.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu