Arteta Fires Back at Porto Coach's 'Strong Words' on Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has hit back at Porto head coach Sergio Conceicao’s assessment of the Gunners’ mentality in their recent Champions League clash, labeling the Portuguese tactician’s remarks as “strong words.”

The war of words erupted after Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to Porto in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie last month. Galeno’s late strike proved to be the difference on the night, but it was the post-match comments from both managers that garnered even more attention.

In his post-game interview, Arteta claimed that Porto “used a low defensive block” and “had no intention of playing,” a statement that didn’t sit well with Conceicao. The Porto boss fired back, stating, “It’s an opinion. They wanted to play, we wanted to win.”

Ahead of the return leg at the Emirates Stadium, Arteta was asked to respond to Conceicao’s verdict on Arsenal’s performance, and the Spaniard didn’t hold back.

“There is no interpretation, those are strong words,” Arteta said, clearly unimpressed with Conceicao’s assessment.

When questioned if Conceicao’s comments would provide extra motivation for his players, Arteta remained focused on the task at hand, stating, “We don’t need any more motivation than what is ahead of us if we do our job tomorrow.”

The war of words between the two managers has added an extra layer of intrigue to an already tantalizing Champions League tie. With Arsenal trailing 1-0 on aggregate, Arteta’s side will need to produce a performance worthy of their talent and ambitions to overturn the deficit and advance to the quarter-finals.

Conceicao, on the other hand, insists that Porto will not sit back and defend their slender lead. The Portuguese coach emphasized that his team will look to attack at the Emirates Stadium, stating, “We came here to play the game and win the game.”

“Arsenal are a team with the second highest value of market here, we have the second lowest,” Conceicao acknowledged, recognizing the financial disparity between the two clubs. “When the ball starts rolling, there is quality on both sides, competent technical teams in the 16 teams that are at this stage.”

Conceicao’s tactical approach and lineup choices could prove crucial in determining the outcome of the tie. The Porto boss acknowledged the different challenges posed by Arsenal’s attacking options, stating, “Playing Gabriel Jesus or Havertz up front is different, Trossard or Martinelli too. Playing Jorginho in midfield or Rice deeper is different, with Havertz or Odegaard up front.”

As the clock ticks down to the highly anticipated second leg, both managers will undoubtedly be fine-tuning their game plans and motivating their players to leave everything on the pitch. With the prospect of a place in the Champions League quarter-finals at stake, neither side can afford to hold back.

The stage is set for a fascinating encounter, one that promises to be as much a battle of wits between the two managers as it is a showcase of the players’ talents. Arteta and Conceicao have already exchanged verbal volleys, and now it’s time for their respective teams to do the talking on the pitch.