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Arsenal vs FC Porto Match Preview
Porto’s 2-1 win over Arsenal at the Estadio do Dragao in February was gifted to them through defensive errors by goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
The Dragons first goal came from Varela’s work on the right wing in the 11th minute when he beat Clichy then crossed the ball low into the center.
The cross was actually a poor one and Fabianski should have handled it easily. He was under no pressure from the Porto forwards yet he had come too far off his line and with the ball passed behind him, he somehow managed to fumble it across his goal line.
Arsenal equalizer
Arsenal fought back, however and got the equalizer off a header by defender Sol Campbell. It was
Campbell’s second goal in consecutive Champions League matches, albeit nearly four years later, his previous coming in Arsenal’s loss to Barcelona in the 2006 Champions League Final.
Porto’s second half winner was a controversial one, at least from the Arsenal point of view, and hapless keeper Fabianski was again at the heart of the matter. The Pole mistakenly handled a Sol Campbell back pass, resulting in a free kick for Porto.
Swedish referee Martin Hansson allowed Porto to take the kick while the Arsenal men were still arguing about it. Micael fed the ball Falcao who tapped it home into a gaping net.
Despite their backline bungling the London side nevertheless had opportunities to equalize in open play but failed to capitalize on them.
The game might yet have turned out more favorably for Arsene Wenger’s men had referee Hansson acknowledged what appeared to be a legitimate penalty claim when Rosicky was pulled down in the box.
Nothing doing, said the ref and the match was destined to end 2-1 Porto.
That single goal, however, may yet prove vital for Arsenal. Away goals carry a heavier weight in the event of a draw; Arsenal need just one at the Emirates Stadium to bring the aggregate score even at two goals apiece. That would be enough to see Arsenal through to the Round of 8.
Arsenal Injuries
Injuries, however, continue to plague the Londoners. Young Welsh international Aaron Ramsey suffered a broken leg last week against Stoke City. He’s out for the season. He joins Dutch striker Robin van Persie on the long term injury list.
Defenders Sol Campbell, Philippe Senderos, Johan Djourou, Keiran Gibbs and William Gallas are all listed as injured.
Fabregas may not play
Then came Arsenal’s league match against Burnley on Saturday. The Gunners dispatched the Clarets with relative ease, as was to be expected, and as a result went briefly to the top of the Premier League until Manchester United dispatched Wolves later in the day.
But the biggest talking point to come out of the Burnley match was the injury to Cesc Fabreges. The Spanish international, Arsenal’s midfield creativity engine, scored his team’s first goal on the day, but limped off with a hamstring injury before half time.
Wenger hasn’t yet ruled Fabregas out of Tuesday’s Porto match, but his fitness to play is unknown.
Some good news for Arsenal comes from the form of Theo Walcott, who scored a fine goal against Burnley at the weekend, and diminutive Russian Andrey Arshavin, who also found the net against the Clarets.
Danish international Nicklas Bendtner, Croatian international Eduardo and Mexican international Carlos Vela are also available as striking options for the Gunners.
Porto’s form a little shaky
When the teams met two weeks ago Porto were a team in good form and were 12 games unbeaten in all competitions. Since the Arsenal encounter, however, the Dragons have a mixed record of a win, a loss and a draw in that order.
Arsenal meanwhile have three wins on the trot going into Tuesday’s match. Their confidence would likely be soaring were it not for their defensive injuries and the doubts that linger over Fabregas’s fitness.
Both teams come into the 2nd leg of the tie in third place in their respective leagues. Arsenal are just two points off the pace of current English Premier League leaders Manchester United. Porto, however, are eight points behind Sporting Braga and Benfica.
But whereas Arsenal have injury concerns to numerous key men, Porto should have a full squad available, including 17 goal Falcao. Brazilian striker Hulk, incredible though it may seem, should also be available, although he hasn’t played a league game for Porto since he was involved in a fracas with a steward off the pitch when Porto met Benfica in December.
Wenger: No great fan of Mack Sennett comedy routines in Arsenal jerseys
A goal down going into the game, Arsenal must attack. There is no doubt that they have men who can put the ball in the Porto onion bag. The questions for Arsene Wenger, however, lie in his defensive options. Porto’s strikers are handy fellows indeed in front of goal and if Arsenal are to win the tie they must man their back line with defenders.
Keystone Cops just won’t do.
