Rio Ferdinand gives his opinion on Arsenal’s disappointing loss to Porto

Rio Ferdinand, the former English footballer turned television pundit, attended the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United at Molineux on February 01, 2024. However, it was his analysis of the UEFA Champions League last-16 tie between Arsenal and Porto that caught the attention.

Ferdinand did not hold back in his assessment of Arsenal’s performance. He stated that they looked “a shadow of themselves” in open play. This was surprising considering the Gunners’ reputation for their attacking prowess. In this match, they failed to register a single shot on target, which is a rarity for the team.

In the first half, Arsenal dominated possession but were lucky not to fall behind when Wenderson Galeno had two clear-cut chances in the 21st minute. Despite a momentary lapse in the Arsenal defense, Galeno’s first effort hit the post and his follow-up narrowly missed the target.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with Arsenal enjoying the majority of possession but failing to create any meaningful chances. It was Porto who posed the more dangerous threat. In the 94th minute, Galeno curled in a stunning strike from 25 yards to secure a famous victory for Porto.

Ferdinand emphasized the importance of creating chances and getting beyond teams at this level of competition. He believed that Arsenal never reached that stage in the match and would have been content with a goalless draw. However, he also highlighted that in knockout football in the Champions League, mistakes and cheaply giving away possession are punished.

Overall, it was a disappointing performance from Arsenal, who now face an uphill battle in the second leg of the tie. As a sports journalist from England, Ferdinand’s analysis reflects the high expectations placed on English teams in European competitions.