Mikel Arteta's team was close to securing a goalless draw in the first leg until a stunning last-minute goal by Galeno shattered their hopes. Despite their impressive goal-scoring form in recent matches, Arsenal couldn't find the net against Porto, leaving them without a single shot on target, a rare occurrence for the club in Champions League history.
However, Arsenal has shown resilience in their recent domestic fixtures, reclaiming the top spot in the Premier League after three consecutive victories. Arteta is now focused on finding the winning strategy to avoid another premature exit from the Champions League.
History favors Arsenal slightly, as they have managed to progress in the Champions League after losing the first leg before, notably against Porto in the 2009-10 season. But they face a formidable challenge against a Porto side buoyed by impressive domestic performances, including a remarkable 5-0 win against Benfica.
Porto, however, hasn't had much success in England, failing to win any of their previous 22 games there. Additionally, their past visits to the Emirates Stadium have resulted in defeats without scoring a goal, including a memorable 5-0 thrashing by Arsenal in a previous encounter.
As both teams gear up for the crucial second leg, Arsenal seeks to rewrite history and secure their spot in the quarter-finals, while Porto aims to maintain their advantage and avoid another disappointment on English soil.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Gabriel Martinelli's injury during Arsenal's dominant win against Sheffield United puts his availability for Tuesday's match in doubt, especially after being spotted on crutches at the Emirates over the weekend.Alongside Martinelli, Takehiro Tomiyasu's participation remains uncertain due to a knock, while Jurrien Timber is still recovering from an ACL injury. However, Arsenal received a boost with Oleksandr Zinchenko's return from a calf concern against Brentford.
David Raya is now eligible to reclaim his spot in goal after watching from the sidelines during the Brentford match. He could replace Aaron Ramsdale, who made a costly mistake leading to Brentford's equalizer but redeemed himself with impressive saves in the second half.
In terms of Porto's lineup, left-back Wendell has recovered from his injury but defenders Zaidu Sanusi and Ivan Marcano are still on the mend from ACL problems. Although Gabriel Veron is nursing an Achilles issue, Porto fans can expect star striker Mehdi Taremi to return after missing the first leg due to a thigh concern.
However, accommodating Taremi's return might mean adjustments in the lineup, possibly impacting Francisco Conceicao's role. Nevertheless, Porto can rely on the experienced Pepe, who continues to lead their defense at 41 years old.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Arsenal possible starting lineup:Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Jesus
Porto possible starting lineup:
Costa; Mario, Pepe, Otavio, Wendell; Varela, Gonzalez; Conceicao, Pepe, Galeno; Evanilson
EXPERT PREDICTION
Arsenal 2-1 Porto
Despite having an extra day to rest from their domestic fixtures, Porto still faces challenges when playing in England. Therefore, we believe Arsenal has what it takes to break their Champions League curse and secure a spot in the quarter-finals.
