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| Porto v Arsenal (Wed) | Porto v Arsenal (Wed) |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Arsenal skipper Thierry Henry is unavailable after accumulating three yellow cards and is also suffering from a neck injury. | Arsenal skipper Thierry Henry is unavailable after accumulating three yellow cards and is also suffering from a neck injury. |
| Midfielder Tomas Rosicky misses out because of a groin and hamstring injury sustained during Saturday's 3-0 win over Tottenham. | Midfielder Tomas Rosicky misses out because of a groin and hamstring injury sustained during Saturday's 3-0 win over Tottenham. |
| Philippe Senderos returns after missing the derby through suspension. | Philippe Senderos returns after missing the derby through suspension. |
| Porto are likely to be at full strength with Bosingwa, Ricardo Quaresma, Helton and Helder Postiga expected to be fit. | Porto are likely to be at full strength with Bosingwa, Ricardo Quaresma, Helton and Helder Postiga expected to be fit. |
| 606 DEBATE: Your views on the match | |
| Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Djourou, Senderos, Clichy, Ljungberg, Fabregas, Gilberto, Hleb, Van Persie, Almunia, Walcott, Adebayor, Baptista, Hoyte, Song, Flamini. | Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Djourou, Senderos, Clichy, Ljungberg, Fabregas, Gilberto, Hleb, Van Persie, Almunia, Walcott, Adebayor, Baptista, Hoyte, Song, Flamini. |
| SCOUTING REPORT ON THE OPPOSITION | SCOUTING REPORT ON THE OPPOSITION |
| Who are they? Champions of Portugal and cup winners for good measure, this is the 10th time in 12 seasons Porto have been in the competition and the third time in succession. | Who are they? Champions of Portugal and cup winners for good measure, this is the 10th time in 12 seasons Porto have been in the competition and the third time in succession. |
| Recent form: They are top of the league, are 10 games unbeaten having won the last seven and have yet to lose at home this season where they have won every match bar one - a goalless draw against CSKA Moscow. In total they have been on the receiving end just twice this term, at Arsenal and in the subsequent match at Sporting Braga - who take their colours from the Gunners. Maybe Arsene Wenger's men should pack their home kit for this foray away. | Recent form: They are top of the league, are 10 games unbeaten having won the last seven and have yet to lose at home this season where they have won every match bar one - a goalless draw against CSKA Moscow. In total they have been on the receiving end just twice this term, at Arsenal and in the subsequent match at Sporting Braga - who take their colours from the Gunners. Maybe Arsene Wenger's men should pack their home kit for this foray away. |
| European record: They won the title by beating Monaco in 2004 under the self-styled 'Special One', Jose Mourinho. He refused to celebrate and moved on to Chelsea and Porto's fortunes have since dwindled as the squad broke up. | European record: They won the title by beating Monaco in 2004 under the self-styled 'Special One', Jose Mourinho. He refused to celebrate and moved on to Chelsea and Porto's fortunes have since dwindled as the squad broke up. |
| How did they get here? Do you remember that bit about them doing the double in Portugal last season? | How did they get here? Do you remember that bit about them doing the double in Portugal last season? |
| Ones to watch: Goalkeeper Vitor Baia is the only survivor from Porto's Champions League success three seasons ago but has to be content with looking on from the sidelines these days as Helton is the chosen custodian. Anderson may be out injured, but Lucho Gonzalez is an imposing midfield figure chipping in with goals and Ricardo Quaresma, Lisandro Lopez and former Tottenham striker Helder Postiga will pose problems in attack. | Ones to watch: Goalkeeper Vitor Baia is the only survivor from Porto's Champions League success three seasons ago but has to be content with looking on from the sidelines these days as Helton is the chosen custodian. Anderson may be out injured, but Lucho Gonzalez is an imposing midfield figure chipping in with goals and Ricardo Quaresma, Lisandro Lopez and former Tottenham striker Helder Postiga will pose problems in attack. |
| Did you know? Helder Postiga has been banging in the goals this term and has a haul of eight from that unbeaten 10-match run. In his season at Tottenham he netted just twice - the same number of penalties he has scored in shoot-outs to break English hearts in the last two major international competitions. | Did you know? Helder Postiga has been banging in the goals this term and has a haul of eight from that unbeaten 10-match run. In his season at Tottenham he netted just twice - the same number of penalties he has scored in shoot-outs to break English hearts in the last two major international competitions. |
| BIG MATCH STATS | BIG MATCH STATS |
| Definitions of terms used:- | Definitions of terms used:- |
| Champions League (CL) - only group phase matches and beyond of this competition which began in 1992-93. Champions Cup/Champions League - all matches played since it began in 1955-56 including qualification matches.European matches - all matches played in the major European tournaments (Fairs Cup, Uefa Cup, Cup Winners' Cup, Champions Cup, Champions League). Uefa Super Cups, Intertoto Cups and the old Intercontinental Cup competition are excluded. | Champions League (CL) - only group phase matches and beyond of this competition which began in 1992-93. Champions Cup/Champions League - all matches played since it began in 1955-56 including qualification matches.European matches - all matches played in the major European tournaments (Fairs Cup, Uefa Cup, Cup Winners' Cup, Champions Cup, Champions League). Uefa Super Cups, Intertoto Cups and the old Intercontinental Cup competition are excluded. |
| Qualification | Qualification |
| Arsenal are guaranteed a place in the knockout stages if they get at least a draw in Portugal. They can only fail if they lose this match and CSKA Moscow win away to Hamburg. The Gunners will win the group, providing they are not defeated in this game. | Arsenal are guaranteed a place in the knockout stages if they get at least a draw in Portugal. They can only fail if they lose this match and CSKA Moscow win away to Hamburg. The Gunners will win the group, providing they are not defeated in this game. |
| FC Porto will top the group with a victory. They also need at least a draw to be guaranteed a place in the Champions League knockout phase. Like Arsenal, a defeat will also suffice as long as CSKA Moscow do not win in Germany. | FC Porto will top the group with a victory. They also need at least a draw to be guaranteed a place in the Champions League knockout phase. Like Arsenal, a defeat will also suffice as long as CSKA Moscow do not win in Germany. |
| Head-to-heads | Head-to-heads |
| The only previous match between these clubs was the 2-0 win for Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium earlier in this group. | The only previous match between these clubs was the 2-0 win for Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium earlier in this group. |
| FC Porto have hosted English clubs on eight occasions and are yet to lose, winning four and drawing four. Arsenal have visited Portugal twice, drawing on each occasion. | FC Porto have hosted English clubs on eight occasions and are yet to lose, winning four and drawing four. Arsenal have visited Portugal twice, drawing on each occasion. |
| European history | European history |
| FC Porto are playing in their 45th European season. 1973-74 is the last season in which they did not participate in European competition. They are playing their 12th Champions League season, a record jointly held with Manchester United. They lifted the silverware in 2003-04. | FC Porto are playing in their 45th European season. 1973-74 is the last season in which they did not participate in European competition. They are playing their 12th Champions League season, a record jointly held with Manchester United. They lifted the silverware in 2003-04. |
| Arsenal's best result in the CL is reaching the final last season. This is the Gunners' ninth appearance in the CL main competition and their seventh in consecutive seasons. | Arsenal's best result in the CL is reaching the final last season. This is the Gunners' ninth appearance in the CL main competition and their seventh in consecutive seasons. |
| Current European form | Current European form |
| FC Porto are currently second in Group G with 10 points. They have won their last three Champions League matches, and are unbeaten in four at home since losing a 2-0 advantage last season and losing to Artmedia Bratislava. | FC Porto are currently second in Group G with 10 points. They have won their last three Champions League matches, and are unbeaten in four at home since losing a 2-0 advantage last season and losing to Artmedia Bratislava. |
| Arsenal lead Group G having won three, drawn one and lost one of their five matches. | Arsenal lead Group G having won three, drawn one and lost one of their five matches. |
| Player and disciplinary info | Player and disciplinary info |
| Thierry Henry is suspended for this match after receiving three yellow cards in his four matches. Alexandr Hleb will be suspended for the next match if he receives a yellow card. | Thierry Henry is suspended for this match after receiving three yellow cards in his four matches. Alexandr Hleb will be suspended for the next match if he receives a yellow card. |
| Luis Gonzalez, Bruno Alves, Helton and Pepe are all yet to miss a minute of Porto's Champions League campaign this season. Jens Lehmann is Arsenal's only Champions League ever-present. All seven of the Londoners' goals this season have been scored by different players. | Luis Gonzalez, Bruno Alves, Helton and Pepe are all yet to miss a minute of Porto's Champions League campaign this season. Jens Lehmann is Arsenal's only Champions League ever-present. All seven of the Londoners' goals this season have been scored by different players. |
| Other miscellaneous facts | Other miscellaneous facts |
| FC Porto's next defeat will be their 50th in the history of the Champions Cup/Champions League, while the next goal Arsenal concede will be the 100th scored against them in Champions Cup/Champions League matches. | FC Porto's next defeat will be their 50th in the history of the Champions Cup/Champions League, while the next goal Arsenal concede will be the 100th scored against them in Champions Cup/Champions League matches. |
| Porto lead the Portuguese League with a five point advantage over second placed Sporting CP. Arsenal are third in the Premiership, trailing leaders Manchester United by 16 points. | Porto lead the Portuguese League with a five point advantage over second placed Sporting CP. Arsenal are third in the Premiership, trailing leaders Manchester United by 16 points. |
| Big Match Stats source: Infostrada Sports | Big Match Stats source: Infostrada Sports |