Preview: Porto v. Arsenal, Champions League Round of 16, First Leg

Estádio do Dragão, Porto

Wednesday, February 17
1945 GMT, 2:45 pm EST

• Referee: Martin Hansson (Sweden)
  
• History: 2 Arsenal wins, 1 Porto win, 1 draw
  
• Arsenal's League Form: W-W-D-L-L-W
• Porto's League Form: L-W-D-W-W-D

Predicted Line-Up
guesses italicized

Almunia
Sagna - Gallas - Vermaelen - Clichy
Fabregas - Denilson - Diaby
Nasri - Bendtner - Eduardo

Subs from: Fabianski, Traore, Eboue, Campbell, Rosicky, Ramsey, Walcott
Out: Arshavin (hamstring), Song (knee), Merida (ankle), Vela (knee), Gibbs (foot), Van Persie (ankle), Djourou (knee)

• A bit about Porto: They have won four straight Portuguese Liga titles and won the Portuguese Double last year. This season, they are currently in third place. Porto finished second in their qualifying group, behind Chelsea.
• Arsenal was last knocked out in this round in 2007, 2-1 to PSV of the Netherlands.
• The second leg is March 9 at Emirates Stadium.
• Arsenal has faced Porto twice in group stage play, in 2006-07 and last season. Arsenal has not won at Porto, playing a scoreless draw in 2006 and losing 2-0 in 2008.
• Porto played their first 11 home matches to English sides without a loss before falling to Manchester United last year and Chelsea earlier this year.
• Martin Hansson is the referee, which means teams will be allowed to just throw the ball into the net.
• I still haven't heard a thing about Alex Song's knee injury aside from that he's doubtful. Andrei Arshavin is definitely out, but Eduardo is returning from the hamstring injury suffered at Aston Villa.