Lots of possession - no shots on goal.

Presented by

Hello and welcome to our latest newsletter! In this edition, we're focusing on the following topics:

1. ⚽Porto vs Arsenal - Game Analysis

2. 🤙Weekend-Tips

⚽Porto vs Arsenal - Game Analysis

In the Round of 16 of the Champions League, Porto and Arsenal faced off at the Estádio do Dragão, ready for an exciting and highly anticipated match at the highest level of European football.

Before we dive into the game analysis, let's first share some interesting post-match statistics:

• This is just the second time on record (since 2003-04) that Arsenal have failed to record a shot on target in a UEFA Champions League game, previously doing so away to Barcelona in the last 16 in March 2011.

• Porto have ended a run of five straight home games in the UEFA Champions League without a win against English opposition, since beating Leicester 5-0 in December 2016. Indeed, it’s their first home goal in the knockout stages of the competition since a 2-1 win over Juventus in February 2021.

• Porto’s Pepe (40y 360d) became the oldest outfield player to start a UEFA Champions League knockout game, overtaking the previous record of Ryan Giggs for Manchester United against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals in April 2014 (40y 123d).

The Lineups

The First Half

Arsenal started the game with a controlled style of play and dominated possession early on. They followed their usual setup with a 3-2-5 or 3-2-2-3 formation scheme. Saliba, Gabriel, and Kiwior formed the three-man defense line, while Ben White acted as an inverted full-back and formed the double pivot with Rice. Odegaard and Havertz took up higher positions, shaping the dynamic box midfield alongside White and Rice.

From the beginning, it was clear that Porto wanted to block the center of the field. They cleverly defended with a lot of players in the midfield, forming a 4-5-1 shape. They focused on defending well and waiting patiently for their chances. Although Porto has skilled players who can cause problems for Arsenal in one-on-one situations, the team was disciplined and knew they couldn't attack recklessly.

Arsenal's midfield was flexible and attempted to react to the opponent's tactical setup. An example of this was Odegaard, who repeatedly dropped deeper into the center or onto the side to improve his availability for passes.

Porto mostly favored a 4-2-4 or 4-2-2-2 formation during their possession phase. However, due to Arsenal's aggressive pressing, they struggled to keep the ball for long periods in their own ranks. Arsenal's adept pressing often forced Porto to play the ball wide, where the only way out was often a long pass. This strategy almost always resulted in ball losses for Porto.

Arsenal opted to defend Porto's build-up play with a 4-4-2 system. In this setup, Odegaard moved forward to apply additional pressure from the front.

Porto rarely intercepted the first pass to the midfielder. Instead, they focused on blocking the dangerous spaces (between the lines) that players like Odegaard and Havertz often occupy.

Even though Arsenal played with a box midfield, they didn't have a numerical advantage in the midfield against the 5 or 6 players from Porto, who primarily shielded the center. Porto shifted cleverly and avoided passing to the ball-carrying players like Odegaard and Havertz by using their defensive shadows. They forced passes to the wide positions, where Martinelli and Saka were often doubled up. As you can see, this tactic requires excellent discipline and running work to close all these spaces.

Presented by PIX4Team

Film and stream your games without a cameraman

Who wouldn't want to review and analyze their team's game? With technological advancements, even amateur clubs are aiming higher. That's where PIX4Team, an auto-follow camera designed for teams, steps in to make a difference.

Here's what you get from PIX4Team:

• Choose your preferred filming option:

  • Film with a renowned camera brand of your choice with a real optical zoom

  • Film with your smartphone breathtaking video quality.

• Open system compatible with all sport-analyzing softwares, live streaming platforms and social media

• Free PIX4TEAM REMOTE app (manage recording of the top camera and live streaming)

• No subscription required

• 2-year warranty

• Happy or money back

Dive deep into game analysis and share insights with your chosen teammates, friends or family to take your gameplay to the next level. Customize your package to perfectly suit your team or club. Craft the experience that works best for you!

🆕Use the promo code "PIX4TEAM-5" to receive a 5% discount on your order.

The Second Half

n the second half, the course of the game remained largely unchanged. Porto continued to defend solidly and relied on individual actions in attack. On the other hand, Arteta's team struggled to exploit the crucial spaces. Despite their efforts, Arteta's team couldn't find a suitable solution to this even after the halftime break.

Despite losing the ball in midfield and Arsenal's quick transition play, the team failed to create danger. Porto's rest-defense reacted just as swiftly, immediately transitioning and proving to be extremely solid.

In the 74th minute, Arteta attempted to make a change by substituting Trossard off and bringing Jorginho onto the field.

Havertz took over Trossard's position, while Jorginho and Rice formed the new double pivot. This change was intended to gain more control and play more offensive passes, as Jorginho is known for his passing abilities. White then took on the role in the back three, and Kiwior moved into the offensive midfield. However, this adjustment also had no impact on the game's further course.

In a pivotal moment during the 94th minute of stoppage time, Havertz's careless loss of possession proved costly for Arsenal. In a swift counterattack, Galeno scored a stunning goal, securing a 1-0 victory for Porto and sealing Arsenal's defeat.

Conclusion

Arsenal struggled to find an effective solution to exploit the spaces and penetrate into the attacking third. Porto defended with great discipline and patiently waited for their chances. Nevertheless, the return leg is expected to be exciting. We can anticipate a similar performance from Porto, as they will likely aim to maintain a compact defensive shape while also implementing a midfield pressing strategy.

Arsenal holds the home advantage and must secure a victory, but they shouldn't rush their attacks. They need to take calculated risks. It will be interesting to see if Porto, under the pressure of the away match, will be compelled to adopt a more defensive approach than before. If they manage to maintain a strong midfield press at the Emirates Stadium, it will pose a challenge for Arsenal even at home. It remains to be seen which team will ultimately come out on top.

🤙Weekend-Tips

• 🚨Europa League Draw: The teams for the Europa League Round of 16 have been decided. Here are the matches coming up next.

• 👉Get ready for some exciting matches:

  • Arsenal vs Newcastle United

  • Bayern Munich vs RB Leipzig

  • Chelsea vs Liverpool

  • AC Milan vs Atalanta

• 🆕3 neue Übungen (für Abonnenten):

  • Shooting Fun Game

  • Passing Activation

  • Shooting under pressure

Check out our Homepage for exclusive training videos and products.

Was this post forwarded to you? Subscribe here.

Have an idea or feedback to share? [email protected]