Arsenal will seek to overturn a one-goal deficit in their second-leg knockout encounter with FC Porto to avoid another premature European exit.
Mikel Arteta has seen many improvements at Arsenal as they get set to welcome FC Porto to the Emirates. During his time at the club, they have also missed out on European football altogether, but the underlying theme during their years in the Europa League has been based on premature exits.
Heading to Porto a couple of weeks ago, the Gunners were in flying form but could not muster a single shot on target in Portugal. While they seemed destined to earn a valuable draw, Galeno’s late strike meant they returned to London empty-handed.
Since then, they have maintained their winning form in the Premier League as Arteta seeks to overturn that one-goal deficit to progress in the Champions League on Tuesday. The Gunners are undoubtedly boosted by their return to the summit of the Premier League and will want a top performance that seems like a fitting answer to all their critics.
Sergio Conceicao was bullish after the game in Portugal and recently after their 5-0 demolition of Benfica about their chances of winning against Arsenal. The Porto boss will have been happy with his players for executing his tactical masterplan flawlessly.
Conceicao’s tactics ensured Arsenal barely had time to settle and get in their rhythm to create clear-cut chances. The stop-start nature of that game also helped Porto massively, although they must consider the task at hand at the Emirates come Tuesday.
Similarly, in the 2009/10 campaign, Porto came to the Emirates with a slender advantage. Back then, the Gunners put them to the sword with a 5-0 demolition job, as Conceicao will not hope for a repeat of that scoreline, and instead, he will look to prepare his players for a challenging task ahead.
Team News & Tactics
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta does not have any new injury issues from the weekend, but Gabriel Martinelli might not make the squad after he was on crutches. The Brazilian suffered a cut against Sheffield United and may take a while to recover. Arsenal hope to have him fit for the Manchester City game at the end of March, meaning he may be unable to join the Brazilian squad for the international break.
Oleksandr Zinchenko had an eventful cameo against Brentford on Saturday, but Arteta might continue to use him from the bench heading into Tuesday. Jakub Kiwior is well-placed to start at left-back, but there is still no concrete update on Takehiro Tomiyasu’s fitness.
Arteta seems to be easing his recently-returned erstwhile-injured stars and will continue to do so until the international break. This means that Arsenal may name an unchanged lineup to face Porto except for David Raya, who will return between the sticks to replace Aaron Ramsdale.
Kai Havertz will continue to lead the line for Arsenal against Porto, while Leandro Trossard is the best candidate to play on the left-hand side of the front three. Gabriel Jesus remains an option for the Gunners in the attacking third, although, like some recently returned stars, Arteta might only use him from the bench.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Raya; Ben White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Trossard
FC Porto
Nothing has changed for Sergio Conceicao with his squad since FC Porto last met Arsenal two weeks ago. The Portuguese boss will not have the services of Mehdi Taremi, Ivan Marcano and Zaidu Sanusi for the trip to North London.
His chances of naming an unchanged lineup from the first leg are very high as those are his best available players, including veteran defender Pepe. Some reports in Portugal insist that striker Taremi could be involved in this game, albeit from the bench.
Diogo Costa hopes for another commanding performance between the sticks and will have the security of a familiar back four. Joao Mario, Pepe, Otavio, and Wendell will play in those places. The latter even suffered a knock in the first leg and has since recovered from the problem.
Alan Varela and Nico Gonzalez will be tasked with midfield duties, while Aquino will play an advanced role alongside the three front attackers. Evanilson will lead the line, with first leg goalscorer Galeno occupying the slot on the left hand side, with Francisco Conceicao on the right flank.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Costa; Mario, Pepe, Otavio, Wendell; Varela, Gonzalez; Conceicao, Aquino, Galeno; Evanilson
Key Stats
- Arsenal have kept a clean sheet in their last three home matches against FC Porto in all competitions.
- Arsenal have won their last three home matches against FC Porto in all competitions.
- Arsenal have suffered elimination from the Champions League in the Last 16 stage in each of their last seven seasons in the competition.
- Porto have failed to win all of their 22 previous matched played in England.
- Since the 2012/13 season, Porto have not been eliminated from a Champions League Round of 16 tie after prevailing in the first leg.
Player to Watch
Jorginho
Arsenal had hoped to wrap up the Brentford game early and allow some of their key stars some much-needed rest before the encounter on Tuesday. Among all the players Arteta could find time to slow down, he chose to take out Jorginho, who has become a key asset for him and how the team plays recently.
Many considered the midfielder not starting the game in Porto as a critical factor in how Arsenal performed. If that indeed was the case, then Arteta might throw in the Italian for good measure. He has allowed Declan Rice to flourish on the front lines, and that factor alone might win the Gunners the second-leg tie and overturn the deficit to go through to the quarterfinals.
Prediction
Arsenal 3-0 FC Porto
Porto might feel extremely confident following their first-leg performance against Arsenal and the lead they have to protect when coming to London. Sergio Conceicao also appeared optimistic when asked about the second leg. While the Portuguese giants may have a slender advantage, the Gunners are in the mood to put up a big scoreline at the Emirates.
Mikel Arteta promised in his post-match conference after the Brentford game that the Emirates will be at its very best in creating the right atmosphere. The occasion cannot get bigger than this, as the pressure will be on Porto to deliver. Arsenal are the clear favourites to win this clash in a big way and should go through to the quarterfinals of the Champions League.