Porto vs Arsenal - Livescore ( 0 — 0 )
Porto vs Arsenal LIVE! Champions League match stream, today
Arsenal are third-favourites to win the Champions League despite the club’s long wait for a deep run in the competition
Porto vs Arsenal - LIVE!
Arsenal are back in Champions League action as they travel to face Porto in the first leg of their last-16 tie tonight. The Gunners, competing at Europe’s top table for the first time in seven years, topped their group before Christmas and will be eyeing a deep run.
It is though 14 years since they last made it to the quarter-finals of this competition, after a string of last-16 exits when they were last involved. Mikel Arteta’s side are full of confidence though, heading to Portugal on the back of five straight wins, across which they have scored 21 goals. Fabio Vieira has travelled, as he looks to face his former club, but Thomas Partey will not be involved.
Porto sit third in the table domestically, struggling to consistently find their best form, but they will back themselves on home soil. It is only three years since they were last-eight of the Champions League, when they were beaten by eventual winners Chelsea. Follow all the action with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog below, featuring expert analysis from Simon Collings at the ground.
Arsenal look to end long wait
Arsenal’s most recent appearance in the quarter-finals of the Champions League came in 2010.
Since then, it has been seven last-16 ties, seven defeats.
Bayern Munich beat the Gunners three times, Barcelona twice, while AC Milan and Monaco also got the better of Arsene Wenger’s side.
Room for improvement, shall we say...
Costa: Arsenal have weaknesses
Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa is confident his side can exploit “weaknesses” in the Arsenal team.
The Gunners are in scintillating form, having scored at least three goals in four of their last five Premier League games.
Costa, however, is confident the Portuguese side have more than enough to pull off what would be a surprising result in the last-16.
“We are prepared for everything Arsenal can do, both offensively and defensively,” he told a press conference on Tuesday.
“Everyone has their weaknesses, they haven’t faced FC Porto yet and they will certainly have their difficulties.
“It’s a very offensive team with some weaknesses that we will exploit to the fullest.”
Vieira acting as 'insider' for Arsenal
Mikel Arteta has revealed Fabio Vieira has been acting as an “insider” for Arsenal ahead of tonight’s clash.
The 23-year-old has had an important role to play in the build-up to this match, against the club he left to join the Gunners in 2022, telling his team-mates what to expect at the Estadio do Dragao.
“Regarding Fabio really happy with him but at the same time sad because it’s been a tough period for him,” Arteta said.
“Especially with the last injury when he had some momentum and performances he got injured, that broke up his rhythm, just like last season. He’s a player with enormous talent and we will get the best out of him.
“He was really pushing because he wanted to be here, that’s for sure. Having an insider, someone who has experience as someone who has lived the culture and the club.
“It’s very important in Europe to understand the context of the game. Where you’re going, what type of club they are, what type of atmosphere you will be facing.
“He gave us some important information that’s relevant for us.”
