Declan Rice reveals what was said in Arsenal dressing room after Porto loss amid Newcastle aim

Declan Rice insisted that Arsenal will learn quickly after admitting that they showed inexperience during their 1-0 defeat to Porto in the Champions League round of 16 first leg.

The Gunners had struggled to show any real attacking threat in a turgid affair at the Estadio do Dragao. Then with seconds remaining in the match, David Raya, Rice himself and Gabriel Martinelli all gave the ball away cheaply in quick succession and were punished in brutal fashion as Galeno curled in from distance to give Porto a shock lead in the tie.

This was Arsenal's first Champions League knockout tie in seven years, with Kai Havertz being the only member of the starting XI to have played a game at this stage of the competition. In 40-year-old Pepe meanwhile, Porto sported the oldest outfield starter in Champions League history. Speaking after the game Rice admitted the lack of European knowhow compared to their opponents was what cost them.

«I think the last minute is probably a bit of inexperience,» the 25-year-old said. «Just probably having a bit more savviness, in terms of — [it’s] the 93rd minute, you look up at the clock, it’s 0-0, we gave a ball away on the edge of our box twice and then he bends one in the top bins. So we have got to have a bit of savviness to see out the game, because if you can’t win, definitely don’t lose — especially in a knockout game.

»I think you look on the pitch at a load of their players, you look at Pepe especially, with the experience he has got in these types of ties. You look at our team, we are such a young group. Some of us have not played in the Champions League before [this season], so it is all about learning on the job.

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