Mikel: ‘It’s clear what we have to do’

Mikel Arteta has already set his sights on the return leg in London after we fell to a late 1-0 first-leg defeat in Portugal.

In a stop-start game at the Stadio do Dragao, we struggled to find our usual rhythm and fluency, and will have to overturn a one-goal deficit in the second leg after Galeno’s late strike gave Porto the advantage.

After the game Arteta said: “It's tough to play here. They are really well organised and we have some problems, especially in the first half to attack much better.

“But when we had total control, dominance of the game and we looked to be more of a threat, play more in the final third, generate I think 10 or 12 corners, we didn't make enough of that.

“And then the way we gave the ball away, especially in those deep areas in the Champions League, you pay the price and now it's just half-time. It's clear what we have to do. Now, it's more clear than before. You want to be in the quarter-finals, you have to beat the opponent and, we're going prepare that for our supporters to have a real go.”

The last time we faced Porto at this stage of the competition, back in 2010, we turned round a one-goal defeat from the first leg and triumphed 5-0 at home to progress, and it’s all to play for again when we welcome the Portuguese side to Emirates Stadium on March 12.

“We have to create a special atmosphere and we have to really go for it, and get some momentum in the game and manage the game really well because today was foul after foul and we had some help from the ref to do that, but I'm sure it will work out.”