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Football 7mos ago
Thierry Henry slams two Arsenal stars for role in FC Porto defeat
Source:Football

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has criticised David Raya and Gabriel Martinelli for their roles in the 1-0 defeat at FC Porto in the Champions League.

It was a losing return to the knockout stages of the elite European competition as they played in the Round of 16 for the first time since 2016/17. Galeno scored a stoppage-time winner to hand the hosts a slender lead going into the second-leg in North London.

The Brazilian found himself in space on the edge of the Arsenal box, cutting inside and curling past Raya. Arsenal failed to apply pressure on their opponents before they suffered the suckerpunch in the fourth minute of added time.

Henry aimed Martinelli for his role in the goal after his crossfield pass was intercepted with 40 seconds of stoppage time remaining. Raya came under fire after the effort looped over his outstretched arm, handing Porto a boost late on.

"You lose that ball, one minute to go, this is where away from home in Europe, you have to be a bit more clear on what you do," he told CBS Sports. "That's a cheap lost ball on the counter-attack.

"I am not a goalkeeper, but he is missing the one step to be able to control his feet. He jumped too early.

"We (Arsenal) were only good at set-pieces. It's one thing to play West Ham, it's one thing to play Burnley and then it's one thing to play away in the Champions League. If you want to play in the Champions League, you have to create more chances.

"We didn't create enough and, as it happened, those guys were better than us on the day. We still have a return leg, but I told you last week it was going to be difficult away at Porto, and it was.

"Look at this, it could have been a three-v-two (if Martinelli's pass came off). You miss a pass, and the next thing you know you backpedal. If you backpedal against people that can curve, then you are in trouble. If it's a better pass, then they are in trouble."

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