Manuel Almunia: Arsenal Can Manage Without Cesc Fabregas Against Porto

Keeper confident of overcoming Portuguese giants...

08-Mar-2010 8:29:00 PM

By Alan Dawson

More On :  Arsenal, Porto, Cesc Fàbregas
Arsenal players run towards Manuel Almunia after Roma missed their penalty in sudden death
Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is confident the north Londoners can secure a passage to the Champions League quarter-final.
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The Gunners head into the concluding leg of their round of 16 Champions League clash with Porto looking to overturn a 2-1 deficit accrued during the first leg in the Estadio do Dragao.

Their task was today made trickier by the fact that skipper Cesc Fabregas is set to miss the game with a hamstring injury picked up during the weekend win over Burnley.

"Cesc is the spirit of this team, he is our captain and a fantastic player," Almunia explained at a pre-match press conference.

The shot-stopper believes that Arsenal are a weaker side without the creative midfielder, but is sure that their collective spirit will see them through.

"When he is not on the pitch we miss him a lot," the keeper added.

"All the players are convinced, and 100 per cent committed to go through this game."
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