[roversgirl]

All match discussion here

[The Pensioner]

Porto certainly played us tough in the group stage, but it's difficult to imagine the English side not making it out of this. Porto can be giant killers, but I think that time has passed. First leg should be close though. 1-2 is my prediction.

[JoshBRFC]

Over 2 legs.. i expect Arsenal to beat them by about 3 goals. I remember last season, i think.. in the group stages.. Arsenals kids beat them 4-2 or something.. but very convincingly.

[ASF]

JoshBRFC, on 09 February 2010 - 02:11 AM, said:

Over 2 legs.. i expect Arsenal to beat them by about 3 goals. I remember last season, i think.. in the group stages.. Arsenals kids beat them 4-2 or something.. but very convincingly.

Arsenal won the game in London 4-0, with the main team, and we won at home 2-0, against a young Arsenal side. But to be fair, when we faced them in September 2008, we were building our team again, with some players that played that night that are warming the bench or usually aren't even in the final list for the games.

There's still one week for this, but if the last weeks are anything to go by, then we are more than capable of eliminating Arsenal. We have been scoring goals for fun, with the proof of that being the 5-2 result against Sporting last week. Arsenal are very much beatable, like it has been shown in the Premiership, where they are capable of winning against the lesser sides, but have been swept aside in the big matches.

[JoshBRFC]

I wasn't 100% sure, i knew 4-2 was in my head from somewhere :lol: I'm sure i remember Arsenals kids beating Porto. My bad?

Either way, i expect them to go through, Arsenal seem to be able to beat anyone on their day, it's just when it get's to the important games, Semi's of Champions League, for example.. they fall short and get pasted, like their last 2 games. And Wenger has to do something to change that, they can't play the light, quick passing game against the best of the best. Anyways, that's talk for the later rounds, if they progress here...

Aren't Porto, like Arsenal.. a few points off where they would want to be in the league? Last time i checked their league.. i'm sure they were in 3rd, around 5-10 points behind?

[ASF]

JoshBRFC, on 09 February 2010 - 05:24 PM, said:

I wasn't 100% sure, i knew 4-2 was in my head from somewhere http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif I'm sure i remember Arsenals kids beating Porto. My bad?

Either way, i expect them to go through, Arsenal seem to be able to beat anyone on their day, it's just when it get's to the important games, Semi's of Champions League, for example.. they fall short and get pasted, like their last 2 games. And Wenger has to do something to change that, they can't play the light, quick passing game against the best of the best. Anyways, that's talk for the later rounds, if they progress here...

Aren't Porto, like Arsenal.. a few points off where they would want to be in the league? Last time i checked their league.. i'm sure they were in 3rd, around 5-10 points behind?

Well, the likes of Fabregas, Walcott, etc. aren't much older than the Arsenal's kids, so your confusion there was understandable. http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif

Exactly, and this is one of those big matches, no matter if the pundits say Arsenal are favourites. This won't be like the previous group stages matches.

We are 7 points of distance from Benfica, with one game in hand, and 6 away from Braga, with the same number of games.

But in the last weeks we have been showing a good form, our best period in this season, that's why I'm optimistic for this tie.

This post has been edited by ASF: 10 February 2010 - 04:35 PM

[John Connor]

Arsenal are an entertaining side and with my favorite formation of 4-3-3 but cain't them winning @ Porto...

Porto 2 - 1 Arsenal

[Liverpool96]

Quote

Arsenal's Andrey Arshavin has said he will miss Wednesday's Champions League game at Porto with a hamstring strain.
Arshavin picked up the injury in last week's 1-0 win over Liverpool.

"If all goes well I will get back on the pitch as early as the next Premier League match against Sunderland," he told the Premier League's website.

Alex Song is also struggling to shake off a knee injury but the Gunners are expected to have striker Eduardo back in contention.

Arsenal have been without the Croatian for the past three weeks because of a hamstring problem.

Defender Thomas Vermaelen, meanwhile, will play through the pain barrier once more barely a fortnight after he had feared had fractured his leg against Aston Villa.

The 24-year-old was stretchered from the field in the 0-0 draw on 27 January, but the injury turned out to be no more than heavy bruising and he played against Manchester United just four days later.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif

"It turned out that I could play against United, but after that game I had some more problems, so I went for another scan," Vermaelen said.

"We could see then that there was a big bruise on the bone, and that's all. So it is painful but that can be controlled with medicine and when it is not broken, you can't do too much wrong.

"It is not a big problem to play - yes it is still there and will take some time to go away, but it is not dangerous."

http://news.bbc.co.u...ope/8516193.stm

Oh Dear http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif

This post has been edited by Liverpool96: 16 February 2010 - 08:42 AM

[ASF]

The fact Arshavin is not playing are great news. Him plus Gallas, Edu Silva, Almunia, Van Persie. We also have our share fair of absents, with only one striker available.

Seems Jesualdo will put Hulk on the starting eleven, which I think it's completely madness, considering he hasn't played since December 20. A trident of Mariano, Varela and Falcao would be better to start the game, and launch Hulk into it when there's 25/30 minutes left.

[True_Blue]

Arsenal with 6 players missing,if they get anything here it will be a miracle.

[Vidic15]

That is horrible horrible keeping....

[Jinky]

1-0 Porto, howler from Fabianski.

Porto started the better, created a couple of good chances.

[JoshBRFC]

I've got 2 Accumulators here, went risky for the Arsenal win in one, and draw in the other...

shit from the keeper then, Fabregas or Rosicky gonna score next.. prolly Fab, use your magic!!

[Great Gooner]

SOL-POWER!!!!! 1-1.

[JoshBRFC]

Get in! Sol Campbell, Haha fair play to him!

[Jinky]

This doesn't feel like a CL knockout tie. The atmosphere is shite, so many empty seats in the ground also.

[Great Gooner]

Jinky, on 17 February 2010 - 08:08 PM, said:

This doesn't feel like a CL knockout tie. The atmosphere is shite, so many empty seats in the ground also.

Who cares??? Better for us, no home advantange for Porto. :thumbsup:

[Jinky]

Great Gooner, on 17 February 2010 - 08:09 PM, said:

Who cares??? Better for us, no home advantange for Porto. http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/thumbsup.gif

Me obviously http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif. Games are better with atmosphere. But aye, good for Arsenal.

[Great Gooner]

Jinky, on 17 February 2010 - 08:12 PM, said:

Me obviously http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif. Games are better with atmosphere. But aye, good for Arsenal.

Switch to Bayern v Fio, might have a better atmosphere for you if it bothers you that much mate.

Nice save from Fabianski there.

[Vidic15]

Jinky, on 17 February 2010 - 08:12 PM, said:

Me obviously http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif. Games are better with atmosphere. But aye, good for Arsenal.

It's a bit like an Arsenal home game then ;)