UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER FINAL LEG 2 PREVIEW: ARSENAL FC (5-4 – Fav) v FC PORTO (7-4); Draw: 11-4 [Arsenal lead 2-1 on aggregate]
ARSENAL: Our domestic form has taken a brutal hit, registering our first back-to-back league losses of the season to lose 1st place to resurgent Chelsea, albeit with a game in hand. Still, we are well placed to advance in Europe, which should serve as a great tonic for our domestic blues as well as a platform on which to muscle our way back into contention. As clichéd as it sounds, every game left is a final, with a solitary bad showing enough to torpedo our interests in any given competition. As much as I’m keeping an eye on our visit from Everton in 3days, as the league is definitely priority #1, I’m still fielding as strong a side as I believe can get the job done over Porto at the Emirates.
TEAM NEWS: Long-term absentee Philippe Senderos (D LC, broken leg – thigh) is still out for another 4weeks; David Bentley (AM RLC, shin splints) is out for 2weeks.
Gilberto Silva (DM), Valeri Bojinov (AM R, ST) are a booking away from suspension.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
THIERRY HENRY (ST): The maestro leads our offensive line, and poses our most palpable threat in extending our aggregate lead over Porto; here’s hoping this game sees him comfortably over 30goals in all contests. ROBIN VAN PERSIE (AM LC, F C) is our next most experienced offensive player, and will have a lot to make up for his very disappointing showing at Newcastle in the league on the weekend. JOSEPH YOBO (D C, DM), a revelation since signing him in the off-season, is our most in-form defender and will be key in keeping out a potent Porto offense desperate for 2 away goals.
PORTO: The Portuguese giants really have their backs up against it, seeing as they’ve got a one-goal deficit to overturn and 2 away goals to make up for. In all fairness, Porto have proven they can beat us, and can score freely on our turf, and, in whipping relegation-threatened Feirense 3-1 on the road to tighten their fierce grip on the league summit, they certainly warmed up far better than we did. They’ll have to come at us hard to prevent us from playing our game, and hoping our Emirates jinx carries over to continental play, too.
TEAM NEWS: André Bahia (SW, DC); Sandro (D/WB/M L); Ibson (M C); and Lucho González (M C); Thomas Gravesen (DM) is on loan from Real Madrid and ineligible for this competition.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
DIEGO (AM C): The Brazilian maestro scored the equalizing goal in the last leg, his 10th in all contests, giving Porto a way back into the tie, and all his guile, technique and ruthless finishing will be required for the visitors to complete an amazing comeback. MARTIN STRANZL (D C) was the 2nd best Porto player behind their playmaker, and will need to be at his sharpest to keep the home side at bay. BENNI MCCARTHY (ST) had a disappointing outing, but with away goals the currency on which these ties can be turned, plenty of eyes will be on him tonight, as well as on NETO POITGUAR (AM/F C), who has scored or created a goal in each of his last 5games (tallying 6goals and 1assist), including the assist for Diego’s goal in the last leg.
ARSENAL LINEUP (4-4-2):
Jens Lehmann (GK)
Eboué (D/WB R), Touré (D RC), Yobo (D C, DM), Clichy (D/WB/M L)
Billy Jones (D RLC, DM), Hleb (AM C), Gilberto (DM), van Persie (AM LC, F C)
Bendtner (ST), Henry (ST)
BENCH: Manuel Almunia (GK), Valeri Bojinov (AM R, ST), Gonzalo (SW, D C), Dennis Bergkamp (AM/F C), Vincenzo Iaquinta (ST), Ashley Cole (D RL, WB L), Fredrik Ljungberg (AM RL)
It seems an almost experimental side, with Bendtner pairing Henry and Billy Jones manning the right flank, but young Jones has been training well there and is suspended against Everton, the club he very almost moved to, and Bendtner needs to start showing whether or not he can cut it at this level after all. But there’s no denying the strength of the team I’m putting out, with suddenly misfiring Flamini, exhausted Fabregas and speedy Ryan Smith all being rested.
ARSENAL FORM ALL CONTESTS (WLWWL):
5-0 Leeds (A)
0-1 Chelsea (H)
3-0 Q.P.R. (A)
2-1 Porto (A)
0-1 Newcastle (A)
PORTO FORM ALL CONTESTS (WWWLW):
1-0 Vizela (H)
2-1 Lyon (A)
4-0 E. Amadora (H)
1-2 Arsenal (H)
3-1 Feirense (A)
PORTO CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RUN:
4-1 Olympique Lyonnais (H) – 1st Knockout Round, Leg 1
2-1 Olympique Lyonnais (A) – 1st Knockout Round, Leg 2
1-2 Arsenal FC (H) – Quarter Final, Leg 1
ARSENAL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RUN:
3-2 Shakhtar Donetsk (A) – 1st Knockout Round, Leg 1
3-0 Shakhtar Donetsk (H) – 1st Knockout Round, Leg 2
2-1 FC Porto (A) – Quarter Final, Leg 1
PAST MEETINGS:
POR 2 ARS 1 – Champions League Group B (Sept 13, ’05)
ARS 4 POR 3 – Champions League Group B (Nov 23, ’05)
POR 1 ARS 2 – Champions League Quarter Final, Leg 1 (Mar 28, ’07)
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