Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has responded to Porto boss Sergio Conceicao’s ‘strong words’ ahead of the big game tonight.
The Gunners host Porto in the return leg of the Champions League this evening. Arsenal need to overturn a one-goal deficit to qualify for the quarter-finals, and that alone is enough motivation. However, some fans think Arteta is going to use the Porto manager’s comments to fire his side up.
Mikel Arteta responds to Porto manager’s ‘strong’ comments about Arsenal
Arsenal were the favourites going into the first leg last month, but we were far from our best that night.
Porto wasted as much time as possible and deceived the referee on multiple occasions. They had the better chances and picked up the win with virtually the last kick of the game following an error by David Raya.
Sergio Conceicao was understandably delighted with his side’s win, but he went a bit too far with his comments after the game, didn’t he?
“They wanted to play, we wanted to win,” the Porto manager said after his side picked up a 1-0 lead in the first leg at the Estadio do Dragao.
Mikel Arteta, unsurprisingly, was asked about those comments in his press conference yesterday, and the Arsenal boss kept his response short.
“There is no interpretation, those are strong words,” Arteta said.
Arsenal fans react to Arteta’s response
If there’s one thing we’ve learnt about Mikel Arteta, he does not forget what people say about Arsenal.
We all know how he used Ivan Toney‘s tweet to fire up his players before the home game against Brentford a couple of seasons ago.
Following Conceicao’s ‘strong’ comments and Arteta’s response, Arsenal fans think the same thing will happen and are urging people to ‘pray for Porto!‘
One fan tweeted: “I’ve barely seen him make comments like this…..pray for Porto!”
“Oh my oh my, Porto coach is in for a surprise,” said another.
Another fan wrote: “He is going to use that in the dressing room tomorrow…”
“Ohhh boy he is cooking up something nasty for them. Pray for Porto,” tweeted another Gooner.
“Those words will be used against them tomorrow night. Ask Toney,” said another.
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