Am I the only one thinking that Arsenal will find their Champions League tie against Porto extremely difficult? There’s been no cup upsets in Europe’s 1st tier this season, and I think we’re owed one.
No William Gallas could mean that the defence is left badly exposed from set pieces with the appropriately hulking ‘Hulk’ ready to test the weakened Arsenal back four. Midfield creativity will also be badly hit with the regrettable absence of the admittedly ‘Fabulous Fabregas’. Arsenal fans will be praying that Samir Nasri can come in and do a job. He did against Burnley, but that was Burnley at home!
Theo Walcott could give Arsenal the attacking impetus needed to defeat Champions League opposition, but so far this season it really doesn’t look like happening for young Theo. After producing an accomplished performance against Burnley on the weekend and scoring just his second goal of the season with his LEFT FOOT against strugglers Burnley, Walcott will hope to prove himself to the Arsenal faithful. Unfortunately, in the big games, Walcott can frequently
go missing.
The reason why I fear for Arsenal in this fixture is that I think they will underestimate Porto. Yes the Portuguese giants have sold off their best players in the last few seasons. Yes they’ve had problems in keeping their number one spot in the Portugese League this year; trailing behind leaders Benfica and surprise package Braga. But they’ve got a better European pedigree than Arsenal, having won the competition impressively in 2004 and winning the old European Cup in 1987. Of course they are underdogs now, but I can only think that this will benefit them tremendously, especially coming off a 2-1 win in the first leg.
Porto also gave Manchester United a very tough time last year in the Champions League, eventually being beaten by a Cristiano Ronaldo 40 yard screamer.
The absence of Robin Van Persie, William Gallas, and of course last season’s vital target man Emmanuel Adebayor will disrupt Arsenal’s just a little too much for my money.
Never mind- at least Nicklas Bendtner is in good form.
