02 March 2024 , 12:20
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Arsenal right-back Ben White has admitted the Gunners need to become more streetwise after their Champions League gut punch in Porto.
Mikel Arteta's men are back in European club football's most prestigious competition after seven years away and impressed during the group stages. However, Arsenal now find themselves 1-0 down to Porto after defeat at the Estadio Dragao in the first leg of their round-of-16 clash, meaning the Gunners are going to have to come from behind to reach the last eight of the Champions League for the first time since 2010.
Arteta echoed a similar sentiment in the immediate aftermath of the defeat by Porto. The Gunners boss insisted that the 'dark arts' were something Arsenal needed to learn and master if they want to shake off their 'nice guys' image that has long lingered.
Now White has discussed how Arsenal can look to combat some of the 'dark arts' deployed by Porto in the first meeting.
White admitted: "I think so. The Champions League games are always tough. You go over there and you have seen the amount of fouls and stuff that is happening … I think most of them were on me.
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"But it is kind of like different rules when you play in the Champions League: it’s a lot softer, you can’t make any tackles because you are going to give a foul away. I think we can probably be more streetwise and it is a new experience for us. It’s one we learn from and take into the next game."
Aside from the defeat by Porto, it has been a sensational start to 2024 from an Arsenal perspective. The Gunners have won every league game this year, scoring 25 in the process and conceding just three across six fixtures.
White has been an integral part of that, having established himself as an ever-present in the Arsenal line-up since his arrival from Brighton in the summer of 2021. He spent his debut campaign as a central defender, before showcasing his versatility when he was asked to operate as a right-back at the start of last season. He's not looked back ever since.
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Ben White has discussed how Arsenal have to improve in the Champions LeagueLast term also saw Arteta's side top the table for the bulk of the season, only to capitulate at the bitter end, crumbling under the pressure that comes with fighting Manchester City every week. White has shed light on how the Gunners can go one better this time around.
He added: "Maybe looking after the little things when there is so much big talk of everything. Controlling what we do, the little things, personally that is so important for me – because the little things, they add up and they add up. It’s so tight, any small mistake is going to be punished."
Arsenal meet Porto again on Tuesday, March 12 at the Emirates. It remains to be seen whether White's words of wisdom will translate onto the pitch.
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