Champions League
Mar 12, 2024 8.00pm
1
0
HT : 1 0
ET Emirates Stadium
  • William Saliba 39' yellowcard
  • Leandro Trossard 41' goal
  • Mikel Arteta 68' yellowcard
  • Kai Havertz 116' yellowcard
  • yellowcard Pepe 73'
  • yellowcard Sergio Conceicao 78'

How Arsenal could line up against Porto

How Arsenal could line up against Porto

Arsenal have been handed a worrying injury update concerning Gabriel Martinelli ahead of Tuesday's Champions League last-16 second leg with Porto at the Emirates, where the Gunners will endeavour to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit.

The Brazil international was unavailable for the 2-1 Premier League win over Brentford on Saturday evening, having sustained a deep cut to his right foot against Sheffield United on March 4.

Mikel Arteta was initially hopeful that Martinelli would be fit for the clash with the Bees, but the winger was then seen making his way through the mixed zone on crutches after the triumph, which took Arsenal to the top of the table.

Martinelli did not train on Monday either, unlike the duo of Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jurrien Timber (ACL), but the latter is still weeks away from coming back into consideration.

One good piece of injury news arrived on Saturday, though, as Oleksandr Zinchenko came off the bench following his latest calf concern and should now be in contention to demote Jakub Kiwior, despite the Pole's improvement at left-back.

Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba will form the rest of Arsenal's recognisable barrier in front of David Raya, who will take the gloves back of Aaron Ramsdale following the Englishman's mixed afternoon against his teammate's parent club.

Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice remain stalwarts in the middle, and Jorginho should fend off the fit-again Thomas Partey to join them, having sprayed some exquisite passes into the final third against Brentford.

Fresh from scoring for the fourth Premier League game running to take Arsenal top, Kai Havertz is primed to lead the line with support from Bukayo Saka, and Arteta may be tempted to swap out Leandro Trossard for the unpredicable Gabriel Jesus if Martinelli is not passed fit.

Arsenal possible starting lineup: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Jesus

POLL
Who will win Tuesday's Champions League clash between Arsenal and Porto?
Arsenal 78%
Draw 16%
Porto 7%
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