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Champions League Preview: Porto - Arsenal
Depleted Gunners travel to face Portuguese champions again...
16 Feb 2010 21:16:00
By Graham Lister
Wednesday 17 February 2010, Kick-off: 19:45GMT
Estadio do Dragao, Porto
The resumption of Champions League football sees two teams who are both third in their respective domestic leagues going head-to-head in this competition for the third time in the last four seasons. But whereas Porto and Arsenal have previously met in the group stage, this time the stakes are higher as they meet in the first knock-out round, with a coveted quarter-final place the prize.
Porto stretched their unbeaten run to 12 games in all competitions at the weekend with a goalless draw away to Leixoes - their fifth clean sheet in their last six games. But on Wednesday they will be looking to avoid a third successive home defeat by English opposition in the Champions League, having lost 1-0 to Chelsea in November on matchday 5 of this season's group stage, and by the same score to Manchester United in the second leg of last season's quarter-final.
They will be encouraged, though, by the fact that before losing to United (who went on to beat Arsenal in the semi-final last term), they were unbeaten against English visitors in 11 contests, which yielded five wins and six draws. They will also draw encouragement from the 2-0 home victory they secured over Arsenal on Matchday 6 of last season's group stage.
By then, both clubs had already qualified for the knock-out stages from Group G, Porto finishing a point ahead of the Gunners. Bruno Alves and Lisandro scored the goals at the Estadio do Dragao, though Arsenal had won their Matchday 2 meeting 4-0 at the Emirates, with Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor each netting a brace. That result equalled Porto's heaviest away defeat in the Champions League.
The Portuguese champions also met Arsenal in Group G of the 2006-07 tournament, when the Gunners followed a 2-0 home win on Matchday 2 with a goalless draw in Porto on Matchday 6, a result that was enough to take the north London side through as group winners after both teams finished on 11 points.
A notable feature of the four previous meetings between the two clubs is therefore the fact that in none of them has the away team scored; Arsenal will be trying to break that sequence this week.
The Gunners revived their Premier League title hopes a week ago when their victory over Liverpool (Wenger's 300th win in the competition, a milestone previously reached only by Sir Alex Ferguson) ended a four-match winless streak, and coincided with a Chelsea defeat and a Manchester United draw.
Those results left Arsene Wenger's side third with 52 points, six fewer than leaders Chelsea. Defending Portuguese champions Porto, seeking their fifth successive domestic title, are also third in their league, trailing leaders Benfica by nine points. Benfica were the last team to beat them (1-0, on 20 December).
Unlike Arsenal, beaten by Manchester City in the League Cup and Stoke City in the FA Cup, Porto are still in contention in both their domestic cup competitions, reaching the League Cup final and the last four of the National Cup.
But for both clubs this week, all thoughts are focused on Europe. Porto have won the European Champions Cup/League twice before (1987 and 2004, the latter ocasion under Jose Mourinho when they beat Monaco 3-0 in the final), whereas Arsenal's best performance in the competition was reaching the final in 2006, when Barcelona came from behind to beat them 2-1.
This season, Porto finished runners-up in their group behind Chelsea in a pool that also included Atletico Madrid and Apoel. Arsenal, meanwhile, won their group ahead of Olympiakos, Standard Liege and AZ Alkmaar. This is the 10th successive campaign in which Arsenal have progressed from the initial group stage, and the sixth time in seven consecutive campaigns that Porto have reached the knock-out rounds.
FORM GUIDE
Porto
13 Feb (Liga) v Leixoes (A) DREW 0-0
10 Feb (League Cup) v Academica de Coimbra (H) WON 1-0
07 Feb (Liga) v Naval 1° De Maio (H) WON 3-0
02 Feb (National Cup) v SC Portugal (H) WON 5-2
30 Jan (Liga) v Nacional (A) WON 4-0
24 Jan (League Cup) v Estoril (A) WON 2-0
Arsenal
10 Feb (Premier League) v Liverpool (H) WON 1-0
07 Feb (Premier League) v Chelsea (A) LOST 0-2
31 Jan (Premier League) v Man Utd (H) LOST 1-3
27 Jan (Premier League) v Aston Villa (A) DREW 0-0
24 Jan (FA Cup) v Stoke City (A) LOST 1-3
20 Jan (Premier League) v Bolton Wanderers (H) WON 4-2
TEAM NEWS
Porto
Coach Jesualdo Ferreira could be without Orlando Sa (left adductor) and Ruben Micael (shoulder), who both sustained injuries against Leixoes at the weekend.
Raul Meireles has been sidelined since January 20 with a back injury, Ernesto Farías for the same period with a knee problem, and Cristian Rodríguez since January 30 with a damaged thigh.
But Alvaro Pereira, suspended for the Leixoes game, should be back to face Arsenal.
Last starting XI (v Leixoes): Helton, Lopes, Rolando, Alves, Fucile, Fernando (Orlando Sa 80), Belluschi (Costa 63), Ruben Micael, Mariano, Falcao, Varela.
Nominated squad for Champions League:
Goalkeepers: Helton, Beto, Nuno
Defenders: Bruno Alves, Fucile, Rolando, Alvaro Pereira, Maicon, Nuno Coelho, Miguel Lopes, David
Midfielders: Raul Meireles, Fredy Guarín, Fernando Belluschi, Cristian Rodríguez, Mariano Gonzalez, Tomas Costa, Fernando, Ruben Micael, Alex, Ricardo Dias, Amorim
Forwards: Falcao, Hulk, Silvestre Varela, Ernesto Farias, Claro
Arsenal
Arsene Wenger goes into the game without five first-team regulars. Andrei Arshavin, who damaged a hamstring against Liverpool, is out, as is Alex Song - who suffered a knee injury in the same game.
A doubt about the fitness of William Gallas means he didn't travel, so Sol Campbell should make his first Arsenal appearance in the Champions League since scoring the Gunners' goal in the 2006 final.
Striker Eduardo was expected to be back after missing the last few games with a hamstring problem, but didn't travel - and nor did goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, so Lukasz Fabianski will probably start.
Robin van Persie, Kieran Gibbs, Johan Djourou and Fran Merida remain long-term casualties.
Last starting XI (v Liverpool): Almunia, Eboue, Vermaelen, Gallas, Clichy, Song, Diaby, Fabregas, Nasri (Rosicky 33), Arshavin (Walcott 67), Bendtner (Sagna 81). Subs not used: Fabianski, Traore, Campbell,
Denilson.
Nominated squad for Champions League:
Goalkeepers: Manuel Almunia, Lukasz Fabianski, Vito Mannone, James Shea
Defenders: Bacary Sagna, Thomas Vermaelen, William Gallas, Mikael Silvestre, Johan Djourou, Gael Clichy, Emmanuel Eboue, Armand Traore, Sol Campbell, Thomas Cruise, Craig Eastmond, Kieran Gibbs, Cedric Evina, Luke Ayling
Midfielders: Abou Diaby, Cesc Fabregas, Tomas Rosicky, Samir Nasri, Denilson, Aaron Ramsey, Alex Song, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Fran Merida, Nacer Barazite, Francis Coquelin, Luke Freeman, Emmanuel Frimpong, Conor Henderson
Forwards: Eduardo, Robin van Persie, Carlos Vela, Theo Walcott, Andrey Arshavin, Gilles Sunu, Nicklas Bendtner
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Porto
Givanildo Vieira de Souza, aka Hulk, is the striker Arsenal need to sign this summer, according to their Portuguese former player Luis Boa Morte. The powerfully-built Brazilian forward, 23, is described by the West Ham midfielder as: "Very strong going forward, he has good technique, great pace and can really strike the ball.” But while Hulk has been impressing on one flank, Silvestre Varela has been making an impact on the other, while in the middle, 24-year-old Colombian striker Falcao has already scored 20 goals for Porto this season and has proved to be a deadly finisher since arriving from River Plate last summer. Given Arsenal's defensive vulnerability, the Porto attack is likely to prove a significant handful.
Arsenal
Midfielder Abou Diaby scored the goal last week that earned the Gunners their crucial victory over Liverpool, underlining how important he has become to Wenger's team this season. The leggy Frenchman has seven goals to his name this term, and his penetrating forward forays are a key dimension to the side. But if Alex Song is ruled out by injury, Diaby will be tasked with the responsibility of providing a shield in front of the back four - a role demanding discipline and 100% concentration. If Diaby holds station, Cesc Fabregas will have the platform on which to provide the creative spark, given that Arsenal will probably be seeking at least one goal to take back to London. In that they will hope that striker Nicklas Bendtner, recently recovered from injury, can make an impact.
PREDICTION
Porto are in a rich vein of form; Arsenal had their confidence undermined when a nine-game unbeaten streak was ended by Stoke City in the FA Cup. But their win over Liverpool will have put them in a more positive frame of mind for what was always going to be a difficult trip to Portugal. The Portuguese champions start the game as favourites, particularly in view of Arsenal's depleted squad, and will be confident of securing a first-leg victory. It will be a stern test for the Gunners, who may be grateful to leave the Dragons' den on level terms. But a narrow home win could well be on the cards.
Porto 2-1 Arsenal
Estadio do Dragao, Porto
The resumption of Champions League football sees two teams who are both third in their respective domestic leagues going head-to-head in this competition for the third time in the last four seasons. But whereas Porto and Arsenal have previously met in the group stage, this time the stakes are higher as they meet in the first knock-out round, with a coveted quarter-final place the prize.
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Porto stretched their unbeaten run to 12 games in all competitions at the weekend with a goalless draw away to Leixoes - their fifth clean sheet in their last six games. But on Wednesday they will be looking to avoid a third successive home defeat by English opposition in the Champions League, having lost 1-0 to Chelsea in November on matchday 5 of this season's group stage, and by the same score to Manchester United in the second leg of last season's quarter-final.
They will be encouraged, though, by the fact that before losing to United (who went on to beat Arsenal in the semi-final last term), they were unbeaten against English visitors in 11 contests, which yielded five wins and six draws. They will also draw encouragement from the 2-0 home victory they secured over Arsenal on Matchday 6 of last season's group stage.
By then, both clubs had already qualified for the knock-out stages from Group G, Porto finishing a point ahead of the Gunners. Bruno Alves and Lisandro scored the goals at the Estadio do Dragao, though Arsenal had won their Matchday 2 meeting 4-0 at the Emirates, with Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor each netting a brace. That result equalled Porto's heaviest away defeat in the Champions League.
The Portuguese champions also met Arsenal in Group G of the 2006-07 tournament, when the Gunners followed a 2-0 home win on Matchday 2 with a goalless draw in Porto on Matchday 6, a result that was enough to take the north London side through as group winners after both teams finished on 11 points.
A notable feature of the four previous meetings between the two clubs is therefore the fact that in none of them has the away team scored; Arsenal will be trying to break that sequence this week.
The Gunners revived their Premier League title hopes a week ago when their victory over Liverpool (Wenger's 300th win in the competition, a milestone previously reached only by Sir Alex Ferguson) ended a four-match winless streak, and coincided with a Chelsea defeat and a Manchester United draw.
Those results left Arsene Wenger's side third with 52 points, six fewer than leaders Chelsea. Defending Portuguese champions Porto, seeking their fifth successive domestic title, are also third in their league, trailing leaders Benfica by nine points. Benfica were the last team to beat them (1-0, on 20 December).
Unlike Arsenal, beaten by Manchester City in the League Cup and Stoke City in the FA Cup, Porto are still in contention in both their domestic cup competitions, reaching the League Cup final and the last four of the National Cup.
But for both clubs this week, all thoughts are focused on Europe. Porto have won the European Champions Cup/League twice before (1987 and 2004, the latter ocasion under Jose Mourinho when they beat Monaco 3-0 in the final), whereas Arsenal's best performance in the competition was reaching the final in 2006, when Barcelona came from behind to beat them 2-1.
This season, Porto finished runners-up in their group behind Chelsea in a pool that also included Atletico Madrid and Apoel. Arsenal, meanwhile, won their group ahead of Olympiakos, Standard Liege and AZ Alkmaar. This is the 10th successive campaign in which Arsenal have progressed from the initial group stage, and the sixth time in seven consecutive campaigns that Porto have reached the knock-out rounds.
FORM GUIDE
Porto
13 Feb (Liga) v Leixoes (A) DREW 0-0
10 Feb (League Cup) v Academica de Coimbra (H) WON 1-0
07 Feb (Liga) v Naval 1° De Maio (H) WON 3-0
02 Feb (National Cup) v SC Portugal (H) WON 5-2
30 Jan (Liga) v Nacional (A) WON 4-0
24 Jan (League Cup) v Estoril (A) WON 2-0
Arsenal
10 Feb (Premier League) v Liverpool (H) WON 1-0
07 Feb (Premier League) v Chelsea (A) LOST 0-2
31 Jan (Premier League) v Man Utd (H) LOST 1-3
27 Jan (Premier League) v Aston Villa (A) DREW 0-0
24 Jan (FA Cup) v Stoke City (A) LOST 1-3
20 Jan (Premier League) v Bolton Wanderers (H) WON 4-2
TEAM NEWS
Porto
Coach Jesualdo Ferreira could be without Orlando Sa (left adductor) and Ruben Micael (shoulder), who both sustained injuries against Leixoes at the weekend.
Raul Meireles has been sidelined since January 20 with a back injury, Ernesto Farías for the same period with a knee problem, and Cristian Rodríguez since January 30 with a damaged thigh.
But Alvaro Pereira, suspended for the Leixoes game, should be back to face Arsenal.
Last starting XI (v Leixoes): Helton, Lopes, Rolando, Alves, Fucile, Fernando (Orlando Sa 80), Belluschi (Costa 63), Ruben Micael, Mariano, Falcao, Varela.
Nominated squad for Champions League:
Goalkeepers: Helton, Beto, Nuno
Defenders: Bruno Alves, Fucile, Rolando, Alvaro Pereira, Maicon, Nuno Coelho, Miguel Lopes, David
Midfielders: Raul Meireles, Fredy Guarín, Fernando Belluschi, Cristian Rodríguez, Mariano Gonzalez, Tomas Costa, Fernando, Ruben Micael, Alex, Ricardo Dias, Amorim
Forwards: Falcao, Hulk, Silvestre Varela, Ernesto Farias, Claro
Arsenal
Arsene Wenger goes into the game without five first-team regulars. Andrei Arshavin, who damaged a hamstring against Liverpool, is out, as is Alex Song - who suffered a knee injury in the same game.
A doubt about the fitness of William Gallas means he didn't travel, so Sol Campbell should make his first Arsenal appearance in the Champions League since scoring the Gunners' goal in the 2006 final.
Striker Eduardo was expected to be back after missing the last few games with a hamstring problem, but didn't travel - and nor did goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, so Lukasz Fabianski will probably start.
Robin van Persie, Kieran Gibbs, Johan Djourou and Fran Merida remain long-term casualties.
Last starting XI (v Liverpool): Almunia, Eboue, Vermaelen, Gallas, Clichy, Song, Diaby, Fabregas, Nasri (Rosicky 33), Arshavin (Walcott 67), Bendtner (Sagna 81). Subs not used: Fabianski, Traore, Campbell,
Denilson.
Nominated squad for Champions League:
Goalkeepers: Manuel Almunia, Lukasz Fabianski, Vito Mannone, James Shea
Defenders: Bacary Sagna, Thomas Vermaelen, William Gallas, Mikael Silvestre, Johan Djourou, Gael Clichy, Emmanuel Eboue, Armand Traore, Sol Campbell, Thomas Cruise, Craig Eastmond, Kieran Gibbs, Cedric Evina, Luke Ayling
Midfielders: Abou Diaby, Cesc Fabregas, Tomas Rosicky, Samir Nasri, Denilson, Aaron Ramsey, Alex Song, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Fran Merida, Nacer Barazite, Francis Coquelin, Luke Freeman, Emmanuel Frimpong, Conor Henderson
Forwards: Eduardo, Robin van Persie, Carlos Vela, Theo Walcott, Andrey Arshavin, Gilles Sunu, Nicklas Bendtner
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Porto
Givanildo Vieira de Souza, aka Hulk, is the striker Arsenal need to sign this summer, according to their Portuguese former player Luis Boa Morte. The powerfully-built Brazilian forward, 23, is described by the West Ham midfielder as: "Very strong going forward, he has good technique, great pace and can really strike the ball.” But while Hulk has been impressing on one flank, Silvestre Varela has been making an impact on the other, while in the middle, 24-year-old Colombian striker Falcao has already scored 20 goals for Porto this season and has proved to be a deadly finisher since arriving from River Plate last summer. Given Arsenal's defensive vulnerability, the Porto attack is likely to prove a significant handful.
Arsenal
Midfielder Abou Diaby scored the goal last week that earned the Gunners their crucial victory over Liverpool, underlining how important he has become to Wenger's team this season. The leggy Frenchman has seven goals to his name this term, and his penetrating forward forays are a key dimension to the side. But if Alex Song is ruled out by injury, Diaby will be tasked with the responsibility of providing a shield in front of the back four - a role demanding discipline and 100% concentration. If Diaby holds station, Cesc Fabregas will have the platform on which to provide the creative spark, given that Arsenal will probably be seeking at least one goal to take back to London. In that they will hope that striker Nicklas Bendtner, recently recovered from injury, can make an impact.
PREDICTION
Porto are in a rich vein of form; Arsenal had their confidence undermined when a nine-game unbeaten streak was ended by Stoke City in the FA Cup. But their win over Liverpool will have put them in a more positive frame of mind for what was always going to be a difficult trip to Portugal. The Portuguese champions start the game as favourites, particularly in view of Arsenal's depleted squad, and will be confident of securing a first-leg victory. It will be a stern test for the Gunners, who may be grateful to leave the Dragons' den on level terms. But a narrow home win could well be on the cards.
Porto 2-1 Arsenal
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