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Confirmed Arsenal team to face Porto – Team unchanged

Arsenal travel to Portugal this evening to take on FC Porto in the Champions League and this is the team that Mikel Arteta has selected to take on the Portuguese giants.

We all know that Arsenal have not had a great record in the Champions League over the last decade or so, well, when we have qualified that is, but this is a very different Arsenal team and the expectation is that they will dispatch with Porto.

Of course, Porto is not to be treated lightly and respect must be given but the fans have every right to feel confident ahead of the game, the lads are in fantastic form at this moment in time.

As long as Arteta gets his tactics and strategy right and the players maintain the form they have shown over the last few weeks then there is no reason why they should not be returning from Porto with a first-leg lead.

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83 Comments

  3. Well, fingers crossed that we get a really good result today.

    We need to get thru to the last eight, if for no other reason than for the money, which we will probably need in the Summer window.

    So good luck to our team, playing in the country that has been Britain’s oldest ally!!

  10. Why change a winning team? If there is no any reason to make a change to it.
    And since there isn’t any reason for Arteta to make a change to his starting XI Gunners team that has been winning handsomely. He done well and wise to start this his winning team for FC Porto tonight.
    And I believe that this winning team will wallop Porto in the match..

  11. Something not happening so fat tonight. Lots of possession but not creating again. Credit to Porto though with the tactics.

  13. We’ll probably win over two legs but reality check for all the chest thumpers crowing aby how amazing we were against mighy Burnley.

  14. We aren’t pressing them at all, Trossards trying but he can’t cover 3 guys by himself as we are seeing.

    On attack Trossard needs to stay higher to create the space behind him for Havertz and Ode. At the moment he’s dropping too deep IMO leaving nothing up front to hit.

  15. No pace going forward. Porto are organised and our build up is slow so we’re never going to score from open play. Our best chance is set pieces but they are literally hugging us. Porto have had the better chances and could be winning but let’s hope we can move the ball quicker in the second half.

  17. Porto look a wily team and a solid side overall. They look very frustrating to play against but so long as we keep our heads and rice doesn’t get another card I think we’ll be ok – very happy the second fixture is at home!

  18. Rice can’t press aggressively because of the yellow card plus the 1 foul. The lads look tense 😬 and its clearly showing. With 10 players making their knockout stage debut its not surprising. Add to that a coach unexperienced at this level.

  19. Calm down everyone, apart from one blip we are in control, they are are very quick on the break but we will win this, in my opinion by one or two goals.

  20. I thought Arteta has learned this lesson by now. You don’t leave your midfield without adequate protection in a game like this

  22. Martinelli and Saka are very isolated and always against 2-3 Porto players. Getting very little help from the LB/RB or from Ode/Havertz.

    We need to change something, maybe some subs.

  23. Quite a poor performance from us tonight. We’re not in any sort of rhythm and look more like conceding than they do. Things need changing up.

    1. Yeah, very flat and lacklustre from most. I know Porto are well organised but we’ve not helped ourselves with this performance.

  27. Fairly soft performance tonight. Porto playing a good tactical game. They’ve done their homework on Arsenal. They’ve basically nullified everything Arsenal have done in the last 5 matches. Obviously Arteta has come unprepared for this match. Need to start making some substitutions. Porto showing Champions League football experience

    2. Yup, hardly any of our players have real UCL experience. That is valuable even when you are underdogs. This is another learning moment for Mikel as well as a manager. Idk how we are third faves to win this competition when we have absolutely zero experience in it. Several teams should be ahead of us. You can tell so many of our players were crazy nervous and drew blanks

      1. Also I thought Jorginho was NAILED on to start. Perfect for a European away tie like this. Kai wasn’t needed this match and I will always maintain he’s not a nailed on starter and only needed for select games.

  34. well. They deserve it more than we do. This game shows lack of tactical adjustment by MA when plan A is not working.

  35. We’ve got so much to learn in the CL still. Porto deserved the win tbh. We were so so poor even though we had most possession. Regrets again?

  37. Why am I not surprised. From the first couple of minutes where we were dithering and Rice got a yellow card, I sensed a difficult night ahead. Possession does not equate to dominance imo. Porto were difficult to break down and should have scored before they did. Our efforts were disappointingly weak in front of goal. Must do much better

      1. A couple of headers from corners that went wide and a smash from Trossard that flew into the stands. That’s about the sum total.

    1. Most players were poor tonight. Poor passing and never looked like troubling their keeper really. When will we learn?

    2. At full time
      Why did Raya try a throw out
      Hold on and waste time.
      Take the draw.
      Puts pressure on Saturday now.

  39. Very poor from us. Didn’t help when we lost focus right at the end either, although lots of sloppy passes, if Saka had got on the end of that one, at least they would’ve scored. Back to earth with a reality bump.

  41. no subs???? players out on there feet jorghino piss poor when he came on,porto with a 41 year old cb porto score 1st next leg were out

  42. Yet clowns here will find every excuse for this debacle. They will blame the referee. But the referee didn’t stop Arsenal from having shots on target. Zero shots. That’s pathetic. Arteta made no adjustments. No game management whatsoever. And he’s the MAN to take this once great CLUB forwards. What utter bullshite. Can’t see this dross side winning at the Emirates playing clueless football like we witnessed tonight. NO SHOTS ON TARGET. Quite EMBARRASSING

  43. 0-0 would’ve been fine but yet again like always when Arsenal are in R16, the little mistakes pile up and lead to big mistakes. Last minute of the game there 2-3 cheap giveaways for absolutely no reason and I knew something was coming. People forget European matches never play like premier league games do so a 0-0 result would’ve been fine. We’re forced to attack and be in less control at Emirates now, honestly probably for the best. Everybody looked nervous but now the worst has happened and they did score, so get over it and play better next match. There’s no reason to panic. Only if they play like that again. And yes, a lot of European teams dive like crazy, also part of getting past these challenges. (and why I’m hoping Atletico get knocked out ASAP because they are even worse than Porto were today with that stuff). Also, we need to address how the heck Martinelli isn’t progressing as a footballer these past couple of season. He just seems to be stuck in his progress and cant even beat a man anymore.

  44. At full time
    Why did Raya try a throw out
    Hold on and waste time.
    Take the draw.
    Puts pressure on Saturday now.

  45. Midfield was non existent tonight, no-one was good but there was really nothing happening at all in the middle of the park.

    1. PJ-SA, Rice in midfield was simply MAGNIFICENT. I reject your view as being frustrated and taking out your spite on players who controlled the whol game perfectly well,, even though we were uninspiring.

      But we controlled the whole game, save that last worldie goal Only panicky fans lash out in frustation.
      I, being a realist, remain very confident that we, as plainly the better side, will beat them with something to spare at Emirates.

      . But panic away, if it floats your boat. Only sober rminded realism and the realisation that we are by far the bette team floats MY boat!

      1. jon, “controlled the whole game perfectly well, even though we were uninspiring”. Such control that Arsenal had zero shots on goal and lost the game 1-0. This performance and result has certainly given Porto confidence for the return leg at the Emirates. Still effectively half time, with Arteta and the players needing to regroup and lift their enthusiasm, commitment and game to overcome the deficit for the “second half”.

      2. Jon you may reject my view all you want I’m not bothered. Zero panic in what I wrote either. We did not control that game.

        A worldie goal? Are you joking???? The ball almost bounced before going over the line, nowhere near the top corner at all!!

        Reality is chasing you, but you are too fast for it unfortunately.

  46. Odergaard was good, very good actually

    We come to just say only gloom and doom when the team doesn’t win

    Arteta needs to try different things at times

    This match really needed Jesus

    Trossard’s magic “could” have been better on the left as Martinelli couldn’t conjure up more

  47. I take a very different view from most on here I thought we controlled the whole game , except that last worldie goal , really well.
    WE WERE UNINSPIRING BUT WERE WELL IN CONTROL AND ARE STILL WELLIN CONTROL OF THE TIE.
    Many of our fans are getting carried away awith our last five PREM GAMES AND SEEEM TOTHINK WE CAN AND SHOULD BLOW TEAMS LIKE PORTO AWAY AND ON THEIR OWN GROUND.

    I am a realist, so I KNOW THAT IS NOT HOW AWAY TIES IN THE CL KNOCKOUT STAGES WORK. I confidently predict we will get through this tough tie with some ease when back at our place.

    No panic and nothing to complain about, from me! We are clearly by far the better team ans will prove it at home.

    1. totally agree Jon. I’m not panicking. UCL matches never play like Prem matches and I was happy with the 0-0. just dumb things at the end ruined what would’ve been an okay result. I thinks some players were just not themselves today too and the nerves got to them. Hopefully this has shaken it off, a goal was scored, not the end of the world, let’s make some noise at the emirates and push this side through.

    2. I’d agree with you Jon, that the CL is different from the league. I’m not sure that we were in control exactly. How Porto failed to score in the first half with the ball ricocheting around Raya’s goal was a lucky escape in my view. They looked as though they could be dangerous and sadly, our weak efforts from crosses into the box (when we are supposed to be good at those)were instantly forgettable

      There is time to put matters right in the home tie but we have made it hard for ourselves. I sincerely hope the Emirates crowd get behind them and the players learn from tonight’s experience

  48. In the words Jen, a complete humiliation!!
    No shots on goal, no plan B, no cohesion and no passion!!!!
    I guess we’ll be going back in time to explain this result – meanwhile the pre planned excuse that we were the underdogs will be trotted out as an “I told you so” excuse!!

  51. It reminded me of Fulham. We didn’t look like we had any hunger, and then lost focus at end, like we really didn’t care.

  52. What an anaemic, tentative, timid display by Arsenal, obviously happy for a draw, not helped by a referee who rewarded every cynical flop by a Porto player to slow down the game. 37 fouls awarded in the game and Arsenal having 10 corners and no shots on goal. The early and unneeded yellow card to Rice, obviously affected his strength in the tackle and ball winning ability.
    Once Porto blocked off the centre, why did Arsenal not use their wide weapons in Saka and Martinelli. Both were non-existent apart from Martinelli giving the ball away in added time. Once in added time, why didn’t Arsenal run down the clock and be satisfied with the 0-0 their play was obviously aimed at. One of the disadvantages of the removal of the “away goal” rule, causing away teams to settle for a draw. A dangerous practice when 0-0.
    Hard to select any Arsenal player apart from White, who had a decent game. All to do at the Emirates and Arteta and the players need to pull their fingers out!

  53. pjennings’ disappointment is shared by all genuine AFC fans. However, the language is over the top. I always had my doubts with the manager especially with the blind faith he has in some players despite the obvious reality during the matches. I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO RING CHANGES IN THE FINAL 15 MINUTES.

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