Galeno curled in a chic stoppage-time strike as FC Porto defeated Arsenal 1-0 within the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in Portugal on Wednesday.
Showing in a primary knockout match in Europe’s premier membership competitors for seven years, Arsenal struggled to interrupt down an organised Porto defence earlier than Galeno’s last-gasp stroke of brilliance.
The defeat ended Arsenal’s eight-game unbeaten run towards Portuguese opposition and leaves Mikel Arteta’s aspect with loads of work to do within the return leg in London subsequent month.
Arteta caught with the identical beginning line-up for the third sport in succession following his staff’s 5-0 demolition of Burnley on the weekend.
Porto defender Pepe, who turns 41 subsequent week and is the oldest outfield participant in Champions League historical past, made his 119th look within the competitors.
By comparability, Arsenal’s starters had mixed for a complete of 104 earlier than kick-off on the Estadio do Dragao.
Whereas brief on Champions League expertise, Arteta has stated his squad have the idea they’ll combine it with Europe’s finest.
The Gunners have began the brand new yr with 5 successive wins within the Premier League, scoring 21 targets in these video games, and are firmly within the race for a primary title since 2004.
In addition to reigning supreme in England for the primary time in 20 years, the north Londoners are satisfied they’ll additionally conquer Europe, spurred on additional by the prospect of a Wembley remaining.
Arsenal have by no means received the Champions League — shedding their solely remaining look towards Barcelona in 2006.
Porto, European champions in 1987 and 2004, are a disappointing third in Portugal this time period, however annoyed Arsenal all through.
They have been pleased to cede possession and permit Arsenal to dictate the tempo within the first half, however it was the hosts who created the perfect probability.
Francisco Conceicao darted in from the proper and slid over a cross that looped off a sliding Gabriel, with Galeno rifling towards the far put up after which steering the rebound broad after the ball got here proper again to him.
William Saliba and Kai Havertz headed broad at corners both aspect of a Nico Gonzalez drive that sailed over in a bodily opening 45 minutes.
Leandro Trossard, deployed once more because the chief of the assault alongside Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, lashed over on the volley from Declan Rice’s pushed nook early within the second half.
Arteta made his first change with 1 / 4 of an hour left, changing Trossard with Jorginho, as Arsenal sought further management within the closing minutes solely to be undone by a second of magic from Galeno.