‘You need’ - Arsenal boss calls for one key quality before Newcastle United clash

Mikel Arteta has urged for “more aggression” from Arsenal ahead of their clash against Newcastle United.

The Gunners were came unstuck by a 94th-minute curler from Galeno to hand Porto a first-leg advantage. A toothless Arsenal did not manage a shot on target as manager Sergio Conceicao - dubbed in some quarters as the new Jose Mourinho - frustrated them with his defensive setup.

Arsenal’s impotency going forward should breed confidence in a Newcastle side aiming for their first win at the Emirates since 2010. Few are giving Eddie Howe’s side a chance but they were given the blueprint to thwart the Gunners on Wednesday night.

The game is a must-win for Arteta and Co if they are to maintain their pressure on league leaders Liverpool and fellow title rivals Manchester City. As it stands, Arsenal are five points behind and Newcastle are their game in hand as the Reds take on Chelsea for the Carabao Cup this weekend.

Ahead of the Magpies’ trip to the capital, Gunners boss Arteta has demanded his team to show a ruthless streak in attack. The Spaniard said: “Obviously, I am very disappointed with the way we gave the game away (against Porto) at the end. Not managing that situation well enough. You get punished in the Champions League.

“If you cannot win it, you don’t lose it. We really dominated the game but we lacked purpose, especially in the first half. You need to have much more aggression, you need to break lines, to play forward and generate much more threat on that backline.

“We’re used to playing these kinds of deep blocks. In the first especially we lacked certain things. We will learn from it and do better in the second game.”