Ally McCoist left in awe of ‘exceptional’ 25-year-old Arsenal player despite Porto defeat

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Ally McCoist has now been having his say on an Arsenal performance he really appreciated despite the disappointing defeat against Porto.

Mikel Arteta’s side received a quick reminder in Portugal regarding just how tough knockout ties can be in the Champions League.

Arsenal haven’t progressed from the round of 16 since 2010, when they coincidentally beat Porto 6-2 on aggregate.

And perhaps even more pertinently, Arsenal did lose the first away leg by a one goal margin on that occasion too, only to then win 5-0 at home.

Arsenal fans would surely welcome such an emphatic turnaround in a few weeks’ time, even if that looks tougher on this occasion.

That being said, Ally McCoist was watching the first leg for TNT Sports last night, and did enjoy one individual performance.

McCoist felt Arsenal’s frustration against Porto throughout, but did think Declan Rice handled himself brilliantly. 

Rice, who was once again deployed in a single-pivot in Portugal, was slightly hamstrung by an early yellow card he picked up, something McCoist did discuss.

Ally McCoist thought Arsenal star Declan Rice handled himself brilliantly against Porto

McCoist was speaking in the 62nd minute of the game, after Rice blocked an excellent chance for Porto striker Evanilson.

He said: “It’s brilliant from Rice to come across, it really is, because he leaves the man he’s marking, sniffs out the danger – that’s top class defending.

“Comes across, sniffs out the defending and gets the block there, brilliant, because he was marking the man who was goal side.”

McCoist then later discussed how Rice had coped with his early yellow card: “[He’s handled himself] exceptionally well, as you’d probably expect because he’s a very intelligent player.

“I’m slightly critical of him going to ground so early in the game, in the first minute receiving a yellow card, but up to now he’s handled the pressure of having a yellow card extremely well.”

Of course, Rice will need to repeat those levels at the Emirates in a few weeks time, when he’ll hope to also carry more attacking threat.

Moreover, speaking of being more ruthless in attack, Thierry Henry was also covering the Champions League football last night.

And when watching the other round of 16 game, Henry was convinced that one Arsenal-linked player now needed to leave his club.