Manchester United’s win in the San Siro on Tuesday indicated that Premier League sides are still very much to be feared in Europe but Arsenal look up against it in Portugal on Wednesday and I’m keen to take them on.
NFL jerseys
A full strength Arsenal would be fancied to nick at least a draw in their first leg last sixteen clash against FC Porto but Arsene Wenger must do without a host of key men and their opponents are traditionally very strong on home soil.
The French manager will be unable to call upon the services of Manuel Almunia, William Gallas, Alexander Song, Andrey Arshavin and long-term absentee Robin van Persie on Wednesday and, looking at his squad on paper, Arsenal look up against it.
Porto currently lie nine points off the pace in the top flight but that owes largely to Jesualdo Ferreira’s side suffering badly once again with travel sickness and Porto’s form in front of their own fans remains as good as ever.
So far this season only Chelsea have emerged with three points from the Estadio do Dragao and wins over both Atletico Madrid and APOEL in the Champions League group stage saw Porto finish second behind Carlo Anceloti’s men. Porto have conceded just nine goals in 13 home matches all season and also welcome back striker Hulk on Wednesday.
The Brazilian forward, who is likely to partner the prolific Falcao up front, is suspended for six months domestically following a fracas with a steward earlier in the campaign and it will be interesting to see whether or not Sol Campbell, likely to be recalled in Gallas’ absence, will be able to cope with that pairing. I suspect not, and Arsenal’s best form of defensive is likely to be attack.
Despite a less than convincing start to their season, Porto are now unbeaten in 12 matches and while Arsenal represent a step up in class I think they’ll really fancy this.
The Gunners were far from impressive away from The Emirates in qualifying for the knockout stages, dropping pints against AZ Alkmaar and Olympiacos, and Wenger would surely settle for a draw ahead of the return match.
With Porto aware of their own susceptibility on their travels I expect them to go for the kill from the first whistle and the 1.75 with sportingbet about them in the Draw no Bet market looks terrific value.
We’ll get our money back should they be unable to find a way through but Arsenal have looked increasingly fragile at the back of late and that looks an unlikely scenario, in particular with captain Gallas sidelined.
没有评论:
发表评论