Porto -v- Arsenal

Frisbee

-V-

Looking forward to a decent game in this one.
We hammered them 4-0 at the Emirates last year and then lost 2-0 at the Dragao, although we sent out a youth team.

At a guess:

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Almunlol

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Sagna

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Vermaelen

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Gallas

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Clichy

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Fab

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Song

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Diaby

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Walcott

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Bendtner

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Nasri

Arshavin is injured and there is concerns over Song, which I'm more worried about tbh, so if Song doesn't play I'd imagine Denilson will go in instead of him.

Wenger seems to love playing Walcott in big games so I'd imagine he'll start. He is more suited to the open nature of CL games though and playing Rosicky ahead of him would force us far too narrow with Nasri as our other winger.
We should have Eduardo back from injury for this one though.

I'd be very happy with a score draw.

Going to go with 2-2.

Pepe LeFrits

Gallas and Song didn't train so it'll probably be Denilson and Campbell in to replace them. I'd be a little surprised if Le Boss preferred Walcott over Rosicky for this one. Theo has the pace to hurt Porto but Rosicky has the experience and the form for a tricky away tie like this.

leninbenjamin

I'd be very happy with a draw. Know little about this current Porto side, but like always they have a number of players who will threaten any side, including Falcao. The media seem to be treating it as a formality, but it's going to be a tougher game than people expect imo.

For all I've said above I still want to see Song and Gallas rested though regardless. PL should be the priority.

Roaster

I'm expecting a close game but us to ultimately come out on top. Bender to score in a 1-0 or 2-1 win to the Gunners.

Roaster

http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/arsenal-without-five-for-porto-trip-446444.html

Arsenal are without five first-team regulars for the Champions League trip to Porto.

Defender William Gallas (back), midfielder Alex Song (knee) and Andrey Arshavin (hamstring) were all absent from the 18-man squad which left Luton Airport this afternoon, as were goalkeeper Manuel Almunia and striker Eduardo (hamstring).

Veteran former captain Sol Campbell could be set for a first European appearance for the Gunners since the 2006 Champions League final defeat by Barcelona in Paris, while forward Carlos Vela returns from a knee injury.

Robin van Persie (ankle) and Johan Djourou (knee) are both long-term absentees.

Team (from): Fabianski, Clichy, Vermaelen, Campbell, Eboue, Nasri, Denilson, Fabregas, Diaby, Walcott, Bendtner, Mannone, Sagna, Silvestre, Traore, Vela, Ramsey, Rosicky.

keano_afc

Gonna be tricky now, even without Al.

I'd take a draw for sure.

Roaster

Going by the squad, I think he'll go with this:

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Fabianski

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Sagna

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Campbell

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Vermaelen

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Clichy

Nasri

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Denilson

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Cesc

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Diaby

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Walcott / Rosicky / Vela

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Bendtner

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Subs: Vito Mannone, Carlos Vela, Aaron Ramsey, Tomas Rosicky, Emmanuel Eboue, Mikael Silvestre, Armand Traore

Headshot

the incredible Hulk is back for Porto tomorrow night

ill go for a 1-2 Arsenal

Paleface

I'm going for a 1-1. A lot of injuries and I expect Porto to score.

Frisbee

Headshot wrote: »

the incredible Hulk is back for Porto tomorrow night

ill go for a 1-2 Arsenal

Sure these European games are all he has to look forward to, and considering Porto haven't played in Europe in a few months I'm hoping he'll be rusty.

I wonder will Fabianski or Mannone get the nod. I'd imagine Fabianski but neither fill me with confidence.

Frisbee

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

I'd be a little surprised if Le Boss preferred Walcott over Rosicky for this one. Theo has the pace to hurt Porto but Rosicky has the experience and the form for a tricky away tie like this.

I'd prefer Rosicky to play ahead of Theo. But Wenger seems to like Theo in the bigger games.

Last year against United he was injured and his first start back was against United.

This year his first start back after a lengthy injury lay off was against Chelsea.

He just seems to put Walcott in in the bigger games...

Roaster

Frisbee wrote: »

I'd prefer Rosicky to play ahead of Theo. But Wenger seems to like Theo in the bigger games.

Last year against United he was injured and his first start back was against United.

This year his first start back after a lengthy injury lay off was against Chelsea.

He just seems to put Walcott in in the bigger games...

I reckon he's trying to build his confidence by playing him in these big games. So far it hasn't worked. Unfortunately with Theo he's either very good or crap, there's no in between. I hope he starts though.

L'prof

Roaster wrote: »

I reckon he's trying to build his confidence by playing him in these big games. So far it hasn't worked. Unfortunately with Theo he's either very good or crap, there's no in between. I hope he starts though.

I think he needs a run of injury free games, he has showed glimpses of brilliance when he's had that before so, I'm fairly confident he will again!

Frisbee

So can we expect to see something like:

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Fabianski

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Sagna

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Vermaelen

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Campbell

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Clichy

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Fab

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Denilson

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Diaby

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Walcott/Rosicky

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Bendtner

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Nasri


Campbell playing really worries me. He's done alright in the FA Cup games and the other chances he's gotten. But I think European football might be one step to much for Sol, I'd imagine they'll tell Hulk to target him.

L'prof

Frisbee wrote: »

So can we expect to see something like:

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Fabianski

---

Sagna

---

Vermaelen

---

Campbell

---

Clichy

---

Fab

---

Denilson

---

Diaby

---

Walcott/Rosicky

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Bendtner

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Nasri


Campbell playing really worries me. He's done alright in the FA Cup games and the other chances he's gotten. But I think European football might be one step to much for Sol, I'd imagine they'll tell Hulk to target him.

Denilson playing worries me more.

keano_afc

jasonorr wrote: »

Denilson playing worries me more.

Yeah me too. I hope to see some composure, they'll probably come flying out of the blocks at us, its so important we dont concede early.

Galvasean

Before rading the injury news I would have settled for a score draw. Now I'll grab it with two hands!

Frisbee

Fabianski, Sagna, Campbell, Vermaelen, Clichy, Denilson, Fab, Diaby, Nasri, Rosicky, Bendtner.

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Fabianski

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Sagna

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Vermaelen

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Campbell

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Clichy

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Fab

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Denilson

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Diaby

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Rosicky

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Bendtner

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Nasri

Evil_Clown

VS

Let the battle begin !!!

Chardee MacDennis

Wenger making some very valid points about the media "brain washing" the fans in itv4 interview (which it seems is now on ntl)

edit: Sousa's english is shocking considering he's a pundit...

redout

PORTO (4-3-3): Helton; Fucile, Rolando, Bruno Alves, Alvaro Pereira; Ruben Micael, Fernando, Raul Meireles; Varela, Falcao, Hulk.

ARSENAL (4-3-3): Fabianski; Sagna, Campbell, Vermaelen, Clichy; Diaby, Denilson, Cesc Fabregas; Rosicky, Bendtner, Nasri

Evil_Clown

Hope Rosicky can get in a few decent crosses tonite, Helton has looked dodgy from crosses in the past. Bendtner and Diaby need to get in amongst him

Headshot

great to have RTE back

bloody love them

Eamo and Ronnie, the perfect team

Frisbee

Helton is a very poor keeper imo. how he's managed to stay on as Porto #1 is beyond me. It's not just like Almunia where he's imploded this season, I don't think I've ever seen him have a decent game.

We need to test him early and often.

leninbenjamin

Everyone is talking about Hulk for some reason, but seem to be forgetting how good Falcao has become this season (20 goals already in all competitions according to wiki). The player to watch tonight imo considering Hulk (according to many reports) isn't match fit.

Frisbee

Holy God Falcao raped Campbell for pace there, great recovering tackle though!

Jayzus there all over us...

Headshot

what a tackle by sol there

mike65

and again could be 2-0 to Porto.

patrickc

cmon the gunners:)

have two wee bets on

1-2

and walcott to score, for the craic

but wtf campbell.....

paul150

Shaky start :O dont want another liege

patrickc

great run by nasri...

mike65

Porto scores

Frisbee

Oh sweet Jesus...

amacachi

We need a new keeper.

Gonzovision

Wow that was horrible

patrickc

FFS Fabianski come on like...

paul150

we are blessed with world class goalkeepers

L'prof

How many times have I said that Fabianski is Almunia Mk II, ridiculous!

patrickc

amacachi wrote: »

We need a new keeper.

without doubt, but Almunia would have saved that without a doubt

Mr Alan

when is wenger gonna buy a decent keeper? seriously

_blank_

Fúckin hell, loltastic

PDN

Truly cringeworthy Fabianski.

OPENROAD

Bring John Lukic out of retirement please

Frisbee

Mr Alan wrote: »

when is wenger gonna buy a decent keeper? seriously

Never, we already have 3 world class ones*


*Wenger's view

patrickc

would we better with Mannone on?

everdead.ie

That was shocking and it was like clichy wasn't even there he could be in for a torrid night

T-b0n3

Shocking mistake. Could cost them.

Unearthly

Shocking howler

OPENROAD

patrickc wrote: »

would we better with Mannone on?

Think we might be better with Eboue in goal

jaykay74

There wasn't even that much pace on the ball in and it wasn't particularly close to the near post either. shocking misjudgement.

RandolphEsq

Terrible positioning but didn't need to fumble it into the goal. Double fail