Preview: Porto vs Arsenal – stats, team news, line-ups

After a seven-year hiatus from the Champions League knockout stages, Arsenal are back in the latter stages of Europe’s most prominent tournament and have their sights firmly set on Portugal.

Mikel Arteta’s rejuvenated Gunners touch down in Porto this Wednesday, ready to reignite their continental ambitions against Sergio Conceicao’s Dragons in the first leg of their last 16 tie.

Their group stage dominance in Group B earned them this reunion with Porto, who snuck into the knockout rounds after finishing second behind Barcelona in Group H.

This tie promises an action-packed encounter, and as always, seatsnet.com remains the best marketplace to purchase Champions League tickets at competitive prices.

Porto’s Group H campaign was largely predictable, with four comfortable wins against Royal Antwerp and Shakhtar Donetsk to secure a second-place finish behind Barcelona.

While they boasted a superior goal difference to the La Liga giants, their head-to-head record relegated them to the runners-up spot.

Armed with a 12-point haul, the Primeira Liga giants march into the knockout stages seeking redemption. Their last foray into the Champions League ended at this stage, succumbing to a 1-0 aggregate defeat against Inter Milan.

The Portuguese outfit boast a remarkable ten-match unbeaten streak on home turf and have conceded only five goals in that run. However, they face an Arsenal side that tore through a hapless Burnley defence with the same number of goals last weekend.

Fresh from obliterating capital rivals West Ham United 6-0 and etching their name in the record books for the biggest Premier League away win, the Gunners continued their relentless scoring spree at Turf Moor.

Arteta’s relentless troops wrote another chapter in their history by winning their first five league games of a calendar year.

Arsenal’s return from their Dubai training camp has been nothing short of electrifying. With 21 goals scored in just five Premier League games, the possibility of an unthinkable Premier League and Champions League double suddenly feels tantalizingly within reach.

Arteta’s men navigated their Champions League group with admirable efficiency, securing top spot and only conceding four goals in six games – a defensive record only bettered by Real Sociedad (2). 

Sevilla, Lens, and PSV Eindhoven weren’t exactly the toughest contenders, but the Gunners showcased a ruthless streak, dispatching each opponent with clinical precision.

However, away struggles and a historic last-16 curse loom large on the horizon. Since the 2010/11 season, Arsenal have endured seven consecutive eliminations at this stage, their European exploits often ending in heartbreaking disappointment. 

The Europa League offered temporary solace, but the Champions League crown remains the ultimate prize. However, the 2009/10 season offers a glimmer of hope for the Gunners. 

Back then, Arsenal dispatched Porto with a resounding 6-2 aggregate victory in the last 16, securing their passage to the quarter-finals. 

Interestingly, the north London giants have never managed an away win against the Portuguese giants, which sets the stage for a potentially mammoth encounter at the Estadio do Dragao.

Match Preview

The ghosts of past battles hover as Porto prepares to host Arsenal in the Champions League last 16. 

History isn’t kind to the Portuguese giants when facing English opposition in the knockout stages, with seven of their last eight encounters ending in elimination. 

However, there’s a glimmer of hope, a reminder of their 2004 triumph after defeating Manchester United in the last 16, a victory that propelled them to European glory.

Fast forward two decades and Sergio Conceicao’s men head into the Arsenal clash on a scorching run, unbeaten in their last ten games across all competitions. 

Their fortress, the Estadio do Dragao, has become impenetrable, witnessing five consecutive clean sheets – no doubt music to their ears before hosting the Gunners.

But offense isn’t lagging either. Porto has unleashed a goalscoring spree in their last two Champions League home games, netting seven times – a stark contrast to their previous nine home matches where they managed the same number. 

It remains to be seen if they can replicate this goalscoring firepower against Arsenal, but Sporting CP’s success against the Gunners in the Europa League last season is a fresh source of inspiration for Porto. 

The Portuguese side will be looking to leverage their momentum and emulate their compatriots by slaying another English giant.

Arsenal boasts a dominant record against Porto at the Emirates Stadium, having posted victories across their three Champions League encounters with a staggering 11-0 aggregate score. 

While their fortunes flip-flop away from the Emirates, with Arsenal winless in three trips to Portugal (D1, L2), the last time the Gunners got past the Champions League last 16, they did so by beating Porto 6-2 on aggregate.

Porto, themselves, harbour an interesting Champions League statistic. Each of the past five teams to knock them out in the knockout stage have gone on to reach the final that year. 

Juventus, Liverpool (twice), Chelsea, and Inter Milan all followed their Porto victories with appearances in the showpiece event and Arsenal have a chance to add their name to the exclusive list.

History might not be on their side, though. Since the round of 16 was introduced in 2003/04, Arsenal hold the unenviable record of most exits at this stage (9), including seven consecutive eliminations between 2010/11 and 2016/17. 

Interestingly, Porto isn’t far behind in that regard, holding the second spot with eight last 16 eliminations.

There’s a bright spark for Arsenal. English talent Bukayo Saka leads the Champions League in goal involvement, netting three times and assisting four, averaging a contribution every 48 minutes.

Team news & potential line-ups

Porto’s weekend victory over Estrela was bittersweet, as a serious injury to defender Zaidu Sanusi cast a shadow over the celebration. 

The Nigerian ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), effectively ending his season. This adds to the defensive woes for Conceicao, who has already lost Ivan Marcano to an ACL problem.

Midfield uncertainty also lingers, with Stephen Eustaquio’s availability for the Arsenal clash unclear after missing the Estrela encounter. 

Up front, Mehdi Taremi is out with an adductor injury, leaving Evanilson to shoulder the goalscoring burden.

As for Arsenal, Emile Smith Rowe made a welcome return to the bench against Burnley after an ankle injury, but Gabriel Jesus (knee), Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf), and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knock) remain doubtful.

Jurrien Timber was included in the Arsenal squad for the knockout rounds but remains sidelined with an ACL injury, while Thomas Partey (thigh) and Fabio Vieira (groin) are nearing returns from surgery.

Porto potential starting line-up:

(4-2-3-1): Diogo Costa; Joao Mario, Pepe, Otavio, Jorge Sanchez; Alan Varela, Nicolas Gonzalez; Francisco Conceicao, Pepe, Wenderson Galeno; Evanilson

Arsenal potential starting line-up:

(4-3-3): David Raya; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jakub Kiwior; Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Kai Havertz; Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli.