Arsenal switch their focus from the Premier League to the Champions League as they travel to Portugal to face FC Porto on Wednesday evening in the first leg of the round of 16.
The Gunners topped Group B ahead of Sevilla, RC Lens and FC Porto with a game to spare, returning to Champions League football with a bang after a seven-year hiatus. They lost just once across the group stages while conceding a mere four goals, meaning the north London side enjoyed a safe and sound passage to the knockout rounds of the Champions League.
Mikel Arteta’s men have enjoyed a fantastic recent run of form, winning their last five Premier League games and scoring 21 goals in the process. They will be overwhelming favourites on paper against Porto, who are third in the table and struggling in the Primeira Liga title race.
Arsenal Team News
Arsenal have been handed a double injury boost ahead of their trip to FC Porto, with Thomas Partey and Fabio Vieira spotted in team training on Tuesday morning. However, there was no sign of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu, with the trio missing the last few games due to respective injuries.
Jurrien Timber remains the Gunners’ only long-term absentee, although the versatile defender has been included in their Champions League squad for the knockout rounds.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs FC Porto (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
David Raya has been in good form since the turn of the year. He will hope to produce big moments in goal and keep a clean sheet against Porto.
Defence
In front of Raya, Ben White, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes all are undoubted starters in defence for Arsenal. White will continue at right-back, with Saliba partnering Magalhaes in central defence.
With Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu still recovering from their injury problems, Jakub Kiwior must continue deputising at left-back.
Midfield
There is no looking past the midfield trio of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard. Rice will sit in front of the back four and try dictating the pace of the game, whilst allowing Odegaard and Havertz to do the damage in the final third.
Odegaard could drop deep in midfield at times to stitch play and get the Gunners going. Havertz, meanwhile, will return to the scene where his winning goal in 2021 helped Chelsea lift the Champions League.
Jorginho and Thomas Partey, if deemed fit to be in the travelling squad, could come off the bench to shore up the midfield.
Attack
Bukayo Saka is Arsenal’s most in-form player of late with six goals in the last four games. He is an undoubted starter on the right, while Gabriel Martinelli hopes to produce a stellar night from the opposite wing.
Leandro Trossard has thrived in the No.9 role in the last few games in the injury absence of Gabriel Jesus, and the fleet-footed Belgian’s link-up play, movement and creativity could be key in unlocking the Porto rearguard.
Other attacking options should Arteta want to freshen up include Emile Smith Rowe, Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
