Historical, No. Needed, Yes. Arsenal vs Porto Match Preview (CL 2nd Leg)
Champion's League Knockout Stages RETURN!!!
Well there is nothing like going into a fight with one hand (or foot) tied behind your back, right? Based on the current injury list that could be a description befitting this current Arsenal squad. Coming into the second leg of this knock-out stage clash against Porto – Arsenal will take the field without their talismanic Captain Cesc Fabregas.
Fabregas is out with the recurring injury to hamstring that kept him out for a couple of weeks at the end of 2009. Arsenal were taking a wait and see approach with their captain in hopes that a couple of days might heel the injury enough that he could. It didn’t and he won’t. For a team down 2-1, having the best mid-fielder in the EPL and quite possibly Europe out is a big thing.
But take hear Gooners, this is an Arsenal squad that going into the match at the Emirates is stronger (even with Fabs not being in the lineup) than it was two weeks ago when they went into Porto. The lineup for that match was:
Fabianski, Vermaelen, Campbell, Clichy, Sagna, Denilson, Fabregas, Diaby, Nasri, Bendtner, Rosicky
You can see who my probables are further down the page. But we have Almunia in goal and Song in the midfield. Also in the last match Porto were slow down the sides and I think Walcott should start here. Finally, Arshavin was out completely for that match and given the opportunities that were presented at Porto a finisher like him could have a field day.
The big thing for Arsenal to do is to close down the midfield action. In the first leg the space was wide open and there was too much room for Porto to maneuver. Frankly I was surprised at the score as neither team seemed intent on playing any defence. They were both given the space necessary to move around the pitch with free will and create numerous chances. The team that can clog up the middle and maintain it’s attack will win this leg and the move to the next round.
Looking back at the previous match, even with all the space int he field, Porto did not have many quality chances. Their two goals were a direct result of the insanity that is Arsenal’s goal keeping situation. Fabianski, rated by some as superior to Almunia, badly misplayed the first goal and completely forget how to stall for the second one that he was caught unawares. In fairness, while the 2nd goal is in the spirit of the rules, typically the ref will allow everyone to get into position before let the free kick go on. That would be typical but with the ref in question – anything is far from typical. Needless to say Fabianski does the bone headed thing and doesn’t delay for his teammates to get in to place and Porto knocked the ball in 2-1 and chaos ensued.
Anyway that is old news and now the match has switched to the friendly confines of the Emirates stadium. Arsenal need to win 1-0 or 3-1 to move to the next round. The task is made harder with Fabregas’ abscense but not impossible. Porto were hardly a threat to score repeatedly in Portugal. And if not for the two Fabianski gaffs the Gunners could’ve come out victorious. But they didn’t so the pressure is squarely on them.
As I said I think even with the exclusion of Fabregas our side is stronger than Porto and stronger than what was fielded in the first leg. There were missed chances in the box in the early match and someone like Arshavin could’ve put at least one of them away. All of that and the speed that Theo has can come into play against a slower opponent.
Both teams have had good runs of late as Arsenal have won 4 of their last domestic matches putting them right back into the hunt of the domestic campaign. Porto had a run of 14 unbeaten in Liga end with a recent 3-0 loss and currently sit just outside the top two spots. Porto in England have not done so well losing all 6 of their visits to the footballing motherland. Their last two attepmts were a 1-0 loss to Chelsea and a 4-0 loss to Arsenal in this year and last year’s group stages. For Arsenal the challenge is just as hard as they have only once overturned a deficit like this in the Champion’s league out of nine times.
How the Match Should Play Out:
There is nothing difficult about this match. It looks to be an edgy affair. Arsenal are going to need to attack with Porto afforded the luxury of parking the bus and trying to absorb the attack. While they’ve vowed not to that, it remains to be seen. Overall, I think they will only try to counter-attack if they can assuming the midfeild to be open like it was int he first match. Personally, I think either tack plays into Arsenal. Arsenal picked apart their defense in the first leg – they simply failed to convert the chances they were presented. That would do well for both a defencive posture and a counter-attacking posture. THe key would be as I mentioned earlier Arsenal doing it’s part to lock up the midfield. If they do that and continue the pressure they showed in Portugal a win is not unlikely.
Players to Watch:
Arsenal: Samir Nasri. With Captain Fabregas sidelined for the match, Nasri will slot into the creative role. Nasri has come on of late and in the last match against Brunley he was a suitable deputy to the departed spainaird. Nasri has vision and flexibility on the field and I think on a perfect day a midfield of Nasri and Fabregas would be one of the strongest if not the strongest in the EPL. Plus he does have a physical edge to his play that I like.
Porto: Hulk. Hulk only gets to play on international duty as he is supended for 4 months in his domestic league. He was relatively quiet in the first leg having been swallowed up effectively by Campbell and Vermaelen. If Porto want to put the match away – they need him desperately.
Injuries:
Arsenal: Fabregas, Gallas, Djourou, Gibbs, van Persie, Ramsey
Porto: Farias, Fernando
Probable Starting XI:
Arsenal: Almunia, Campbell, Vermaelen, Sagna, Clichy, Diaby, Nasri, Song, Arshavin, Walcott, Bendtner
Porto:Helton, Lopes, Rolando, Alves, Fucile, Sa, Belluschi , Costa, Mariano, Falcao, Hulk
TV Broadcasts:
US: FSC 2:45PM EST
UK: Sky Sports 2 1945 GMT
Online Feeds:
www.iraqgoals.net
Gameday Chat will be open: www.youaremyarsenal.com/gamedaychat
YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal – 3
Porto – 1
