FC Porto captain Pepe has detailed what the Portugues side need to do if they’re to eliminate Arsenal from the UEFA Champions League.
The Gunners fell to a late 1-0 defeat last night as the north London side were outplayed physically and mentally by Porto, who pulled off the perfect game plan against Arsenal.
Trailing in the two-legged affair, Arsenal know they now need a massive performance at the Emirates Stadium next week if they’re to progress to the next round of the Champions League.
Pepe says Porto must be ‘perfect’ to eliminate Arsenal from the Champions League
And speaking to the Evening Standard, Porto captain Pepe revealed that they will need to be perfect in London next month for the second leg.
Given how good Arsenal’s home form has been this season, Porto will need to repeat their tactics if they’re to secure passage to the quarter-finals, something Arteta will now be planning for.
Pepe said after the 1-0 win: “We got an excellent result. In London it will be even harder, so we have to go in even more focused than we did today. We have to be perfect.
“Galeno’s goal was very important, as we want to qualify for the quarter-finals. We knew it was going to be a tough game, as Arsenal have a lot of quality, but we put on a great performance and won with a great goal.”
Porto just need to park the bus to knock Arsenal out of Europe
With a 1-0 lead, Porto’s game plan heading into next month should be as bright as day for Arsenal, that being to put every player behind the ball and defend like their lives depend on it.
The Gunners have struggled greatly this season against teams who know how to defend well in numbers, with the pressure of certain occasions also something that has got to Arsenal under Arteta.
And for Porto, setting out a plan Jose Mourinho will be proud off could be enough to eliminate Arsenal, who might need a miracle if they’re to progress.
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