Last night's game was undoubtedly a heart-wrenching experience for those of us who are loyal Arsenal supporters. Against Porto, a team that is not part of the top five leagues but is definitely a veteran of the knockout rounds, our Gunners seem to be a bit underwhelmed. The last-minute defeat was not just a loss, it was a heavy blow.
First of all, there wasn't a single shot on target in the whole game, which is hard for those of us who are used to watching the team output in the Premier League. We have always prided ourselves on the attacking power of the team, but last night's performance did not show any bright spots.
Let's talk about the substitution strategy, there is only one substitution in the whole game, which is not common in any game. Especially when we were clearly at a disadvantage and needed to adjust, Arteta's substitution strategy was a bit sluggish. Although the choice of personnel is limited, this does not entirely justify non-adjustment.
Statistically, we had almost 70 per cent possession, but so what? Too many safe balls and needless passes have confined the team's area of activity to central midfield most of the time. As soon as the opponent puts the pressure on, we lose the opportunity to attack.
Although the three youngsters in the front, Trossard, Martinelli and Saka worked hard, but their form last night was obviously not at their best. Maybe it's because of the underestimation, or maybe it's because the pace of the Champions League is different from that of the Premier League, and they seem to be particularly impatient and make mistakes.
As for Kai Havertz, his position and responsibilities seemed to have become a blur in last night's game. We could see Rice's efforts in the transition, with Odegaard contributing in creating chances, but Havertz's performance was a bit overwhelming.
It's true that Arsenal didn't perform well last night, which was a big drop from what we expected. But the strength of the team is still there, as long as adjustments can be made to the problems exposed in this game, especially in terms of offensive efficiency and team coordination, there is still a lot of hope for a second-leg reversal.
But the game also gave us a warning that when it comes to the Premier League title, similar problems must not arise. There is no second leg that can turn the tables on us, and every game has to be given its all. Hopefully Arsenal can learn from this defeat and surprise us in the next game.