Arsenal stunned in stoppage time of Champions League first leg
Wenderson Galeno's stoppage-time goal sent a red-faced Arsenal back to North London after Porto claimed a 1-0 first-leg win over the Gunners at the Estadio Do Dragao in a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 on Wednesday.
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Porto had already flustered Arsenal through 90 minutes, keeping the Premier League powers to 0.49 xG and a total of seven shot attempts, but Sergio Conceicao's men took the frustration up a notch deep in stoppage time.
Arsenal lost the ball at midfield and Galeno drove right at Declan Rice, who could not close down the Brazilian before his shot from distance sailed over a fully-extended David Raya to send the tie to England in Porto's favor.
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What’s next?
Arsenal host Newcastle on Saturday at 3pm, and it's a long wait for the second leg vs Porto. The Portuguese heroes visit the Emirates Stadium at 4pm ET on March 12.
Porto wait until Sunday to visit Gil Vicente and have Benfica and Portimonense before the second leg in North London.
How to watch Porto vs Arsenal live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 3pm ET, Wednesday (February 21)
How to watch: Paramount+ and TUDN USA
Porto vs Arsenal live updates as they happened — By Nick Mendola
Porto vs Arsenal final score: 1-0
Goal: Galeno (90+4')
Wenderson Galeno goal (video) — Porto 1-0 Arsenal (90+4' minute)
PORTO STUN ARSENAL IN THE 94TH MINUTE pic.twitter.com/dtirILHRcA
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 21, 2024
Halftime — No goals
It stayed all Arsenal in terms of possession and control. But still, no goals.
Porto out-attempted Arsenal 5-4 and collected 0.96 xG on just 30% of the ball, but the Gunners four shots, five corners, and 70% possession amounted to a miserly 0.34 xG.
Gunners in control but not punching
Arsenal's had 70 percent of the ball but also haven't managed a shot attempt.
Porto had a buzzy 3-4 minute patch midway through the first half that ended with the game's first three shot attempts.
A good reminder of their threat, even if not one ended up on frame.
Porto lineup
⚽ ℕ ℕℂ⚽#FCPAFC #UCL pic.twitter.com/yjjDhR5JkR
— FC Porto (@FCPorto) February 21, 2024
Arsenal lineup
⚪️
Unchanged from Saturday's win at Burnley ✅
Let's leave it all out there, Gunners pic.twitter.com/DadsKfYD6e— Arsenal (@Arsenal) February 21, 2024
Porto focus, team news
Porto will look to the duo of Evanilson and Galeno in attack to make the most of any chances Arsenal give them on the counter. They also have Portugal's starting goalkeeper Diogo Costa and Pepe ahead of him so they have the potential to sit deep, defend and soak up pressure. Porto lost talented Nigerian full back Zaidu to injury which is a big blow.
Arsenal focus, team news
With injuries not clearing up for Arsenal it is likely Arteta will roll out the same lineup he's used for their big wins at West Ham and Burnley over the last two weekends. With Gabriel Jesus out injured, the duo of Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz have taken their chance as they've ghosted into space and interchanged masterfully as Arsenal's attacking machine has ruthlessly clicked into place. Saka is in wonderful form, with Odegaard and Rice also controlling midfield in their sleep. Defensively the Gunners will be tested a lot more by Porto than they've been in recent weeks and this is a big test for David Raya.
OUT: Jurrien Timber (torn ACL) | QUESTIONABLE: Gabriel Jesus (knee), Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf), Takehiro Tomiyasu (undisclosed), Thomas Partey (thigh), Fabio Vieira (groin)