Preamble: Well, here we go. Arsenal has not won a two-legged tie in European competition after losing the first leg since the second round of the UEFA Cup in 1978/79. In order to progress to the quarterfinals, Arsenal must win today 1-0 or by two goals (or 2-1 plus winning in extra time or penalties.)
Unlike in Portugal a few weeks back, not
everybody is hurt. But, Cesc Fabregas is hurt, and that's practically everybody. Also, William Gallas suffered a relapse in training and is back to "square one." Andrei Arshavin is available but can't play all 90 minutes. I'd bring him on late, rather than start him, in case of extra time and penalties. Arsene Wenger has hinted at moving Samir Nasri to a more central role in place of Cesc.
Official line-ups when I have them. For now, I'm guessing:
Almunia - Sagna, Campbell, Vermaelen, Clichy - Nasri, Song, Diaby - Rosicky, Bendtner, Walcott.
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hipstergooner@gmail.com during the game!
And the actual line-up is: Almunia - Sagna, Campbell, Vermaelen, Clichy - Nasri, Song, Diaby - Rosicky, Bendtner, Arshavin.
Subs from: Fabianski, Traore, Silvestre, Eboue, Denilson, Walcott, Eduardo.
Clichy and Diaby are playing on yellow cards.
Porto will start Helton, Fucile, Rolando, Bruno Alves, Alvaro Pereira, Ruben Micael, Nuno Coelho, Raul Meireles, Silvestre Varela, Falcao, Hulk.
Alvaro Pereira is playing on a yellow card.
Without Cesc Fabregas, the team captain today for Arsenal is Manuel Almunia.
Arsenal in standard red and white kits, Almunia is in gray.
Porto in their standard blue and white striped kit, their keeper, Helton, in orange,
officials in black.
1 mins: Arsenal moving right to left, we're underway.
3 mins: Great cross from Clichy just too tall for Bendtner; Rosicky's cross that followed too tall for any human being.
5 mins: Great pressure from the Gunners; a foul on Arshavin and a free kick from the left side. The Russian boots it in, but a great play by Helton punches it out of trouble for Porto.
5 mins: Sagna down hurt. It's his right ankle. Eboue to his feet warming up.
6 mins: Quick recovery from Sagna (dreadlock power!) as he sets up a great Nasri chance in the box. Two brilliant blocks from Porto.
8 mins: Oh, Arshavin with a great header and a fantastic save from Helton brings a quick corner and Arsenal nearly score again.
10 mins: GOAL! Arsenal 1 - 0 Porto (2-2 agg) It's Bendtner! Arshavin has the chance, and the ball pops loose after the collision with Helton. This time, Bendtner does not miss the easy goal.
11 mins: Arsenal is even on aggregate and winning on away goals. Helton still hurt for Porto and down.
12 mins: It's the first time Arsenal has scored in the first quarter hour of a game at the Emirates this year. By the way, the goal should not have counted on offsides.
We're even now, Porto.
14 mins: Clichy's cross that time right to Helton.
16 mins: Vermaelen with a good block on a Hulk shot, but Arshavin then gave it away. Porto with their first corner, was dangerous, but two players missed it. Still in danger, as Arsenal can't clear past center. Arshavin finally carries clear.
18 mins: Arsenal corner after a Sagna cross is blocked. Nasri takes and Diaby volleys it just over the bar.
20 mins: Great save by Almunia on a loose ball in the box. The captain's arm band might have made him a little more decisive.
22 mins: Great ball from Arshavin to the line and nobody was home.
24 mins: Brutal challenge on Alex Song. Falcao booked.
25 mins: GOAL! Arsenal 2 - 0 Porto (3-2 agg) Bendtner! Again! After another fantastic set-up from Arshavin thanks to the Russian's fancy footwork. I think we can all shut up about Bendtner now. Prior to this, Nasri was down shaken up.
28 mins: Nasri has his right hamstring taped and is now waiting to be let back on.
29 mins: Tricky free kick from Arshavin just outside the box goes for top corner, but Helton catches it.
31 mins: Great pass from Arshavin to a blatantly offside Bendtner.
34 mins: Andrei Arshavin, with a gaping net, shoots it into the third row.
36 mins: Porto corner; referee stops them from taking it too close, Bendtner heads away.
37 mins: Another Porto corner headed out of danger, this time by Diaby. Porto streams back forward before Campbell draws a free kick.
38 mins: Vermaelen with a clumsy challenge results in a yellow card.
42 mins: Arsenal needs another to feel comfortable. Porto draws completely level on the tie with one goal. Diaby wins a free kick.
43 mins: Bendtner with a bending shot that forces a Helton save and an Arsenal corner. Diaby had a great look after the corner and Helton makes a fabulous save on the line.
44 mins: Bendtner booked for arriving late with a two-footed challenge.
45 mins: There will be three minutes added.
45+2 mins: Arshavin has been making the same move every time. Couldn't get the cross here, but wins a corner.
45+3 mins: Not a dangerous corner this time as Porto heads clear. Then a low Nasri shot forces another super save from Helton, and another Arsenal corner.
HALFTIME: Arsenal 2 - 0 Porto (Arsenal 3 - 2 Porto on aggregate). Arsenal have had the better of chances and Helton is the only reason this match isn't a thrashing. Porto still a goal away from getting right back into things, so Arsenal needs to come out strong in the second and find the net again. Their passes became a little clumsier there for a while after taking the 2-0 lead, but they ended the half strong, and if the score holds, they'll be into the quarterfinals.
Twitter note: Arsenal is the tenth most trending topic worldwide, but isn't in the top 10 in London or the UK as a whole.
46 mins: Porto kicks off the second half, moving right to left in this half. Arsenal 45 minutes from the quarterfinals. Sub for Porto as Rodriguez comes on for Coelho. Arsenal's XI the same for now.
47 mins: Sagna beat by the newcomer for a Porto corner. Eventually, Hulk handballs.
48 mins: A free kick from the Gunners glances off several heads for a corner, which brings a great punch save from Helton.
49 mins: Rodriguez beats Sagna again, Campbell cleans up the mess and draws a foul.
52 mins: It feels like Arsenal has taken their foot off the accelerator a little too much. Oh look, there's Harry Redknapp. They fucking let you in the stadium?
53 mins: Bad give away to Hulk, who does nothing with it.
54 mins: Boy, if only Song had a shot... that drive rolled easily to Helton.
55 mins: Falcao with a great shot, but the scorcher is right to Almunia. Terrifying moment, Arsenal... and the commentator is right. Arsenal are walking a tightrope right now.
57 mins: Arshavin with a great strike, Helton a great save, fumbled the rebound, but the rest of the Gunners were offside. Eboue on for Rosicky.
58 mins: Arsenal's defense is very shaky right now. They desperately need to score again.
59 mins: Eboue fouled and Alvaro is booked. If Porto advances, he'll serve a one match ban.
61 mins: We hit the hour mark with a bad touch from Clichy and a Porto corner.
61 mins: Blocked at the line by Samir Nasri. That was
this close.
63 mins: This half is all Porto. Very uncomfortable. Campbell beats Hulk, who complains about tugging in the box. No call.
64 mins: GOAL! Arsenal 3 - 0 Porto (4-2 agg) Samir Nasri with an un-fucking-believable goal. Beats about four Porto players with his footwork, fires it past Helton, banks it off the far post, and now Porto needs to score twice to advance. What a fucking play.
66 mins: GOAL! Arsenal 4 - 0 Porto (5-2 agg) Good night Porto. Arshavin streams forward after Porto can't score off a corner, punches it through for Eboue onside, who sneaks around a diving Helton and fires a shot into the gaping net. Hello quarterfinals.
68 mins: Falcao throws his head at a decent cross and misses wide.
70 mins: Don't think Arsenal's getting lackadaisical here, Vermaelen with a brilliant block sets up a Porto corner. Porto now needs to score three to advance.
71 mins: Sounds like a chant of "Are you Tottenham in disguise?" Denilson getting ready to sub in.
72 mins: We have an update from our North London bureau, which apparently came 20 minutes ago, but Gmail just told me. To quote Casey:
- Jack said that Bendtner was going to get a brace. And he did!
- Christian and Jack think Arshavin has been lazy.
- Casey is disappointed in Rosicky's hair today.
Nasri out for Denilson.
73 mins: Sagna takes a shot, which, not surprisingly, is kicked out of London entirely.
76 mins: Two subs for Porto, who have 15 minutes plus stoppage time to score three times... Walcott is on for Arshavin.
77 mins: Walcott with a left footed shot that he probably thinks he can make every time after scoring with it against Burnley. It deflects for an Arsenal corner.
80 mins: Walcott's pace is bothering Porto's defense. Again, it doesn't matter, this match is blatantly over.
84 mins: Bendtner with a chance for the hat trick is forced into a tough angled header and puts it just wide. Not nearly as bad a miss as any of the shots he misfired on Saturday.
85 mins: Walcott fires again with his left foot, approximately ten miles wide.
87 mins: Falcao with a cross to nobody in particular. Goal kick.
89 mins: Walcott with a solid cross that time, but Eboue was too far behind it, as Helton caught it easily.
90 mins: Porto fans look dejected. Also, they have a plane ride to take. God, that's gotta suck.
90 mins: PENALTY TO ARSENAL! Eboue down in the box. Here comes Bendtner for the hat trick. Fucile booked.
90+1 mins: GOAL! Arsenal 5 - 0 Porto (6-2 agg) It's a hat trick for Super Nick! Who has shut us all up effectively! Helton guesses right, but there's too much pace on it. Huge win for the Gunners.
FULL TIME: Arsenal thoroughly dominates, aside from about twenty nervy minutes at the start of the second half. Brilliant performance from everybody involved. More later...!
