Arsenal progressed to the quarter-finals of the tournament following a 4-2 penalty shootout triumph against the Portuguese giants.
Despite suffering defeat in the initial leg, Arteta’s team managed to secure a narrow 1-0 victory in the tense second leg, forcing the match into extra time and eventually penalties, where goalkeeper David Raya emerged as the standout performer.
In the midst of jubilant scenes at the Emirates Stadium, photos captured Arteta attempting to shake hands with Conceicao, the Porto manager, but seemingly receiving a reprimand instead.
Both individuals were visibly incensed and had to be separated, with Arteta walking away from the altercation shaking his head in dismay.
The aftermath of the match saw an explosive press conference, during which Conceicao alleged that Arteta had insulted his family in Spanish during the game.
“During the match, (Arteta) directed insulting remarks towards the bench in Spanish – it seems to be a habit among Spanish coaches, as we witnessed with (Pep) Guardiola as well,” he remarked.
“I informed him to be mindful of his words because the individual he insulted is no longer with us, and he should focus on managing his team, as he has a responsibility to achieve more with the quality at his disposal.”
The lead-up to the fixture was dominated by a verbal sparring match between the two managers regarding their contrasting approaches in the first leg.
Arteta criticized Porto for adopting a defensive stance with ‘no intent to engage in the game’, prompting Conceicao to retaliate by stating: “It’s a matter of opinion. They wanted to play, we wanted to win.”
