Championship Play-Off Final: Blackpool vs. Cardiff

Live Coverage: Cardiff City (3) v. (3) Leicester City [Cardiff wins 4-3 on penalties]

Yesterday, Blackpool defeated Nottingham Forest 4-3 at City Ground to win their Championship promotion playoff semi-final tie 6-4 on aggregate, having already won 2-1 at home on Saturday. Today, plenty more non-Arsenal football to keep our minds from going numb before the World Cup as the other semi-final tie's second leg is played. Today, the Bluebirds of Cardiff City take their 1-0 advantage back to Wales with them as they play host to Leicester City.

We likely won't be going as overboard with our coverage as we did yesterday, but we'll do our best to keep you posted on the game's progress, while also touching a bit on Fulham, who are in Hamburg to take on Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Europa League Final.

Ooh, to be a bluebird (for a few hours.)

Not The Boys of Summer

Definitely not North London

It is odd how quickly the absence is felt. The matches--some watched, some read about--provide a constant ebb and flow, a framework to the week. As another season ends it is met with mixed feelings of relief and regret. That team, those players will never exist in the same way again. You hope that it will be better after a period apart, but worry that some of the magic might be lost. You wonder if love is everlasting.

The odd years are harder, lacking the respite of the even years' tournaments. These events confuse as well as console. To see Song do all he can to stop Bendtner and Van Persie, watch Gallas bundle Vela off the ball, chinks the mythic unity bestowed upon the team. The transfer rumours and gossip fuel this idea of disunification.

Not quite wanting to let go of this season just yet I have gone in search of a mistress; to squint a little and pretend it was someone else. I stumbled upon the Blackpool game that John excellently reported on, and wanted this plucky little team to win. Blackpool are not Arsenal: theirs are rough brush strokes compared to silky smooth lines. Charlie Adam, their talismanic Fabregas-a-like, is Scottish not Spanish (it shows). Yet as I hear the roar of the crowd, the shared hope, I hear the echoes of friends' cries of joy and frustration, and I cannot wait to join them again next season.

Follow our Nottingham Forest vs. Blackpool liveblog below:

Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal Liveblog

Arsenal v. Porto - Minute by Minute

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.

Shoot us an e-mail at 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...!

Porto v. Arsenal - Minute by Minute

Preamble: Well, I'm pretty sure the entire Arsenal squad is hurt or something. The Gunners travel to Portugal without the services of Manuel Almunia, William Gallas, Eduardo, Andrei Arshavin, and Alex Song, in addition to pre-existing injuries to Fran Merida, Robin van Persie, Kieran Gibbs, and Johan Djourou. But hey, Carlos Vela is back!

Official line-ups when I have them. I'd expect Sol Campbell to start in place of Gallas rather than Mikael Silvestre, because both Silvestre and Thomas Vermaelen are left-footed. Denilson will probably start in place of Song at holding midfield. I hope Denilson suddenly remembers that he's supposed to run while playing this sport. Up front is a bigger guessing game. Nicklas Bendtner will start, Samir Nasri should be on the wing, but since Eduardo can't replace Arshavin, will it be Theo Walcott or Tomas Rosicky? Or will Emmanuel Eboue make a surprise start somewhere, as he did against Liverpool a week ago in place of Bacary Sagna? We'll see soon.

These new injuries are not exactly just a Champions League headache; Almunia, Gallas, Eduardo, Arshavin, and Song are all expected to miss Sunderland's visit to the Emirates on Saturday. Gallas will be out until early March with a calf injury (it's not his back, as several media sources have claimed.)

Line-up: Fabianski, Sagna, Campbell, Vermaelen, Clichy, Fabregas, Denilson, Diaby, Nasri, Rosicky, Bendtner. This means my line-up guess from yesterday's post, upon learning of all of the injuries, was 100% correct. I am awesome.

Starting for Porto: Helton, Fucile, Rolando, Bruno Alves, Pereira, Ruben Micael, Fernando, Raul Meireles, Varela, Falcao, Hulk.

So, Arsenal's 4-3-3 looks a little different today thanks to those injuries (alright fine, it's still really a 4-5-1), but with Campbell, Diaby, and Bendtner featuring, maybe Arsenal can use some height to their advantage for a change!

Arsenal in their standard red and white kits, Porto in their standard blue and white striped kit.

Keep in mind, Fabregas and Clichy are playing on yellow cards.

1 min: Arsenal kicks off and we're underway from Porto! Gunners moving left to right as I see it.

2 mins: Campbell beaten poorly there, terrifying chance from Porto.

3 mins: Hulk just misses a shot wide; Porto have had all the pressure and Arsenal are fortunate to have not conceded just yet. Reminds me of the start at Standard Liege.

5 mins: Bendtner, facing a double team in the area knocks the ball out of play and does not get the call for a corner; first bit of Arsenal "arsenalling" in their passing game.

7 mins: Arsenal have settled down a bit. Nasri takes a shot right at Helton, the Porto keeper.

9 mins: Free kick to Porto in a dangerous spot after a challenge from Vermaelen. Bruno Alves, the Porto captain takes it from 30 meters out and it's caught comfortably by Fabianski.

11 mins: End to end action at the start! Hulk is clearly giving the defense fits, but he can't draw a penalty kick from a collision with Campbell.

12 mins: Porto 1 - 0 Arsenal. Clichy beaten easily, like he has been for the last few weeks; Varela crosses the ball and Fabianksi knocks it into the net. Horrible mistake, probably should've been an own goal, but it's not. Brutal, brutal mistake.

16 mins: Great move on the edge of the box by Nasri leads to a corner, which just goes right to Helton.

18 mins: Every time I see Porto's goal, I cringe harder and harder. Bendtner with a shot nearly deflected in, looks like another corner for Arsenal that they won't do anything with.

19 mins: Porto 1 - 1 Arsenal. It's Sol Campbell! A header off the corner and Arsenal is level! What a crazy start to this game.

21 mins: Fabregas a free kick from 27 meters, off the wall, hit an Arsenal player and lands in Helton's arms.

22 mins: Arsenal corner, after a great look at the net from Rosicky, sails over everyone's heads.

23 mins: Vermaelen escapes a booking there, but concedes a free kick outside the box, for a very deliberate push. The kick goes wide left.

25 mins: Sagna is struggling to keep pace at times, but unlike Clichy of late, he's recovering well, and earns a goal kick.

27 mins: Porto doing their best Arsenal impression in terms of passing; Clichy had a chance to clear but mishit, and a Vermaelen header concedes Porto's first corner.

28 mins: Arsenal struggle to clear and eventually, Fabianksi is forced to make a big save, but pushes the rebound near Hulk, but too far for him to hit it on goal as Sagna closes.

31 mins: Far touchline assistant calls the foul on Diaby for that slide tackle and he's booked. Arsene Wenger is very disappointed. Good catch by Fabianski on that free kick, but I momentarily feared he'd fall into the net with it.

36 mins: Little to say, but plenty to see, as the action continues to sway back and forth across the pitch.

37 mins: Big save Helton after the Bendtner deflection. Arsenal corner.

39 mins: There's no more terrifying sight than Cesc Fabregas rolling on the pitch in pain, clutching his ankle. He's fine though.

40 mins: Sol Campbell holds off the Porto attack at the line just long enough for Fabianski to pounce.

42 mins: Great ball to Rosicky, great pass to Bendtner, whose cross was clearly intended for that fan in the third row.

45 mins: Bendtner cancels a great run by falling in the arc over nothing. Back and forth we go again.

45+1 mins: There were 34 seconds of stoppage time? In a half with two goals? Halftime recap coming, but first, a bit of a fun little get together between the two sides entering the tunnel. Should be a cracking second half.

HALFTIME: Porto 1 - 1 Arsenal. "Curious match, this," says Casey and I completely agree. A wide open affair. Arsenal looked shaky at the start, pulled themselves back into the match with a goal seven minutes later, but it's obvious how much this team misses Alex Song. There just doesn't feel like there's a holding midfielder in red out there, leading to action that is swinging wildly back and forth. Meanwhile, shoot us an e-mail at hipstergooner@gmail.com.

46 mins: Second half starts. Gooners, let's pray for some holding from our midfield!

47 mins: Free kick to Arsenal drawn by Denilson outside the box on the left side. Cesc to take it, curls it in, Campbell heads it just a touch high over the bar.

49 mins: Bendtner's shots have just not been on target since coming back from injury. Miscommunication between Sagna and Fabianski was a little worrying. Nothing we haven't seen from Almunia before.

50 mins: Rosicky hauled down in the box with no call. Eduardo Embargo on PK's still on against Arsenal since August.

51 mins: Porto 2 - 1 Arsenal. Hold on, I'll get to this after I clean up from my head exploding.

53 mins: So, Fabianksi stops paying attention, picks up a back pass, then doesn't even try to block the quick indirect free kick, which leads to a goal. Another. Brutal. Mistake. From. Fabianski. Just horrible. Another farcical goal allowed by the Gunners.

54 mins: That'll be controversial for sure and Casey and I are discussing the relative "shittyness" of taking that kick so quickly. But it's on the keeper to get the team ready for it, and tonight, Fabianski has failed miserably.

56 mins: Thank God Fabianski didn't pick it up that time.

58 mins: Another header from an Arsenal free kick sails harmlessly over the bar.

60 mins: Fabianski with a good low save on the Hulk shot. Apocalypse, maybe?

62 mins: Arsenal again come close with possession in the box, but just don't seem to have the personnel to just turn and fire on goal tonight.

64 mins: Fucile booked for Porto on a challenge on Fabregas. Cesc keeps confronting Porto players, but let's remember, he's already sitting on one yellow. Another booking and he's out for the return leg.

66 mins: Arsenal escapes danger with two blocks in the box before a Nasri clear.

68 mins: First subs. Theo "I'm Exceedingly Frustrating to Watch" Walcott replaces Tomas "I Have Awesomely Long Hair" Rosicky. For Porto: Costa is on for Meireles.

71 mins: So, does Arsenal have an equalizer in them? And more importantly, a second away goal? Corner coming...

74 mins: Theo Walcott, with fresh legs, does a great job coming back on defense, then hits a horrible clearance.

76 mins: Fifteen minutes to play here. Clever ball from Nasri to Fabregas doesn't work as the defenders close nicely; goal kick.

78 mins: Alvaro booked for a challenge that led to a play-on advantage call. Then Sagna called for a foul despite looking like he got the ball first.

80 mins: Does anybody on Arsenal want to defend here? A third Porto goal would be killer for Arsenal. Hulk down hurt after a collision with Diaby.

81 mins: Porto corner with ten minutes to play. Carlos Vela warming up. Hulk subbed off, Mariano Gonzalez on.

83 mins: Vela on for Bendtner. Not like we need height or anything.

84 mins: More bookings for Porto, it's Fernando this time. Another Porto sub as well. Cesc is still down hurt.

85 mins: Way to pass it right into touch, Arsenal.

88 mins: Eboue on for Nasri.

90 mins: Has Arsenal had a shot on goal in this half? I don't think so.

90+1 mins: There will be three minutes of added time. Arsenal corner over everyone.

90+3 mins: Great pressure from Arsenal and NOBODY SHOOTS!

FULL TIME: Porto 2 - 1 Arsenal. Full recap coming in an hour or so.