ARSENAL travel to Portugal for their Champions League knockout clash against Porto at the Estadio do Dragao on Wednesday.
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Arsenal’s remarkable 2024 continued over the weekend after an emphatic 5-0 victory against Burnley at Turf Moor.
The Gunners, who have 21 goals and three clean sheets in five straight wins, moved two points behind leaders Liverpool and look well and truly in the Premier League title race.
That all tees them up beautifully for the Champions League knockout stages, where Porto await them at the Estadio do Dragao on Wednesday.
And it’ll feel familiar-ish.
The last time Arsenal progressed past the round of 16 in the UCL, they beat Porto 6-2 on aggregate in the 2009/2010 campaign.
It will also feel like deja vu for the hosts, who’ve been eliminated from seven of their eight Champions League knockout ties against English opposition.
The importance of Wednesday’s fixture will not be lost on Porto given the Portuguese heavyweights have failed to win in their last 21 visits to England – losing eight of their last nine trips.
Porto can’t match Arsenal’s scintillating form. In fact, Sergio Conceicao’s side have one win in their last three – losing to Arouca and failing to beat relegation candidates Rio Ave on home turf.
Odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Arsenal have indeed been the great entertainers in 2024 – winning 5-0 twice and smashing six past London rivals West Ham on their own patch.
But it’s difficult to envisage another emphatic result this week.
Porto, though not enjoying the best of spells, keep things extremely tight with no side having conceded fewer than their five in 11 home league games this season.
In fact, the hosts haven’t conceded a single goal in any of their last five home matches. Arsenal, meanwhile, only conceded four in the group stages – a record bettered only by Real Sociedad (2).
Alan Varela should have a busy evening at the heart of Porto’s midfield.
The defensive midfielder, 22, has picked up five bookings in the Portuguese division in 18 appearances but strangely escaped the referee’s notebook in the Champions League.
The former Boca Juniors star has committed seven fouls in this year’s UCL with only the injured Zaidu Sanusi having been penalised more (8).
Porto forward Mehdi Taremi isn’t afraid of an effort. The Iranian international, 31, may have only struck six goals this season but his shot count isn’t under question.
Taremi ranks tenth for attempts in the Champions League this season (19), while only Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo have have registered more shots on target (9).
It’s no guarantee he’ll score – but with Porto knowing how crucial the first leg in this contest is – Taremi may just try his luck from anywhere.
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