Arsenal v FC Porto Preview and Game Thread

I don’t have much time this morning for a preview. Not even sure if I’ll be home to watch all of the game. But it’s an important match after a lackluster affair from the weekend. Also creating significance is the need for points in our group.

Ahead of today’s match the boss speaks on how it is easier to win the Champions League than the Premiership. Then he mentions how easy it is to lose it. The logic is easy to see – once a team makes the knockout stage, all they need is a run of good form to make it all the way to the finals. Can Arsenal capture that, if they even make the knockout stages? We’ll see. Today is vital, especially at home.

Porto will be a difficult challenge, and a performance similar to the one on Saturday will no doubt see another loss. It’ll be interesting to see who Wenger picks – he has Nasri available, but no Song. I would anticipate Bendtner getting a shot at a start, and perhaps Vela to come off the bench. Adebayor and Van Persie are two players who cannot be complacent like they were on Saturday. I think the big problem then was the fact most players expected to walk all over Hull. A good wake up call, although I’d prefer not to have any more of those. Porto’s quality will negate the mentality of ease, so hopefully they’ll be up for it today.

Leave thoughts from the game below.

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Category: Arsene Wenger, Champions League, Fixtures, Preview