Arsenal change their focus from the Premier League to the Champions League as they journey to Portugal to face FC Porto on Wednesday night within the first leg of the spherical of 16.
The Gunners topped Group B forward of Sevilla, RC Lens and FC Porto with a recreation to spare, returning to Champions League soccer with a bang after a seven-year hiatus. They misplaced simply as soon as throughout the group phases whereas conceding a mere 4 targets, which means the north London facet loved a secure and sound passage to the knockout rounds of the Champions League.
Mikel Arteta’s males have loved a implausible latest run of kind, profitable their final 5 Premier League video games and scoring 21 targets within the course of. They are going to be overwhelming favourites on paper in opposition to Porto, who're third within the desk and struggling within the Primeira Liga title race.
Arsenal Staff Information
Arsenal have been handed a double damage enhance forward of their journey to FC Porto, with Thomas Partey and Fabio Vieira noticed in staff coaching on Tuesday morning. Nonetheless, there was no signal of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu, with the trio lacking the previous few video games as a result of respective accidents.
Jurrien Timber stays the Gunners’ solely long-term absentee, though the versatile defender has been included of their Champions League squad for the knockout rounds.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs FC Porto (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
David Raya has been in good kind because the flip of the yr. He'll hope to supply huge moments in objective and hold a clear sheet in opposition to Porto.
Defence
In entrance of Raya, Ben White, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes all are undoubted starters in defence for Arsenal. White will proceed at right-back, with Saliba partnering Magalhaes in central defence.
With Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu nonetheless recovering from their damage issues, Jakub Kiwior should proceed deputising at left-back.
Midfield
There is no such thing as a trying previous the midfield trio of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard. Rice will sit in entrance of the again 4 and take a look at dictating the tempo of the sport, while permitting Odegaard and Havertz to do the harm within the last third.
Odegaard might drop deep in midfield at occasions to sew play and get the Gunners going. Havertz, in the meantime, will return to the scene the place his profitable objective in 2021 helped Chelsea elevate the Champions League.
Jorginho and Thomas Partey, if deemed match to be within the travelling squad, might come off the bench to shore up the midfield.
Assault
Bukayo Saka is Arsenal’s most in-form participant of late with six targets within the final 4 video games. He's an undoubted starter on the precise, whereas Gabriel Martinelli hopes to supply a stellar night time from the other wing.
Leandro Trossard has thrived within the No.9 function in the previous few video games within the damage absence of Gabriel Jesus, and the fleet-footed Belgian’s link-up play, motion and creativity might be key in unlocking the Porto rearguard.
Different attacking choices ought to Arteta wish to clean up embody Emile Smith Rowe, Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah.
I'm Rohan Sengupta from one of many busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a eager curiosity in sports activities, soccer is one thing I merely can't reside with out and writing, discussing and analyzing the sport is what I do 24*7.
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