FC Porto vs. ARSENAL (CL) [R] Pre/dur/Post Match

[Catfish]

Wednesday, December 6
7:45PM GMT

Setanta Sports (LIVE)
2:00PM (EST) Pre-Match
2:45PM (EST) KO

[REPLAY]
10:30PM (EST) Setanta Sports

The Gunners enter THE DRAGON (Estadio do Dragao)!
sounds like a keen b-movie title....lol. All kidding aside, this match is gonna be huge. We are coming off the high of a convincing win at home vs. our historical + geographical rivals, the side that will remain nameless....i digress. Arsenal must build off that momentum and start establishing that swagger with a big win on the road in Europe.

We need to win. FC Porto are level with us on points at 10. CSKA Moscow are breathing down both of our necks with 8. HSV is totally out of it. The Dragon Stadium is NOT an easy place to play and FC Porto are quite tough, leading the Superliga. The FC Porto side that we last faced at The Grove IS NOT, I repeat, NOT the same side. They are just as flashy, quick, and deadly as we are...should see some beautiful football.

The lads need an all out gutsy, team performance to advance.
This is for pride.

My Prediction: 2-1 to THE ARSENAL!!! We score in the 1st half, they come back and level before HT, finally we get the winner in the 2nd half, AND all is right in the world.....we advance!

Go on you GUNNERS!

[generals soccer]

Does a draw put us through in first? I know someone went through and figured it out I am just too lazy to go back and look for it.

[generals soccer]

Also, I wanted to add the game will be shown on ESPN Classic at 5 pm EST time. I think the boys will play hard and earn a 1-1 draw. RVP to score.

[shincan]

Yes, a draw will do, but we can win.

I think we'll miss Rosicky, but Hleb, Gilberto, Cesc, and Freddie can make do, with Walcott on late. Baptista on late too.




Wenger should let Kolo play at 100% (he's under secret orders to play at 15% of his true ability) and then he is likely to score 6 or 7 times. :D

[Blue'N'Gooner redded]

Not many would agree with me on this but i believe that Hmaburg can get a result against CSKA Moscow in Germany, CSKA don't have Love becuase he is suspended. If Van der Vaart and Hamburg play against CSKA like they played against us in the first half getting an early goal then i can see them getting a 1-1 draw out of the game:rolleyes: Porto made CSKA looked very ordinary in thier last game and that was at thier own backyard in Moscow.

As for the Porto match i can see us winning 1-0 away, we beat them convincingly 2-0 at the Emirates so i can't see why we won't win this one. Van Persie to score.:)

[muffinman]

I'm hoping for the best

Don't underestimate Porto. Portugese clubs have a nack for upsetting English clubs.

[DaPrince84]

Not many would agree with me on this but i believe that Hmaburg can get a result against CSKA Moscow in Germany, CSKA don't have Love becuase he is suspended. If Van der Vaart and Hamburg play against CSKA like they played against us in the first half getting an early goal then i can see them getting a 1-1 draw out of the game:rolleyes: Porto made CSKA looked very ordinary in thier last game and that was at thier own backyard in Moscow.

As for the Porto match i can see us winning 1-0 away, we beat them convincingly 2-0 at the Emirates so i can't see why we won't win this one. Van Persie to score.:)
even tho you are a confused person... I agree with you here... I think Hamburg can get points outta Moscow thus rendering this game a battle for place, not a spot...

[rgrayson]

2-1 to the Gunners.

Lucho scores first but vanPersie and Toure get the win.

[jhamoy]

honestly, no settling for the draw. go for the win. they can do it. they're coming off a high. gunners!! gunners!! gunners!!

[Rewinder]

Why would hamburg try to get points? They cant even make the uefa cup at this point. They will probably field a 2nd best lineup, and focus on the league form.

[antifan]

Wenger has confirmed that Rosicky won't be available for the Porto game. He also stated he doesn't know whether Henry will be ready to return by Christmas.

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=432731&CPID=8&clid=3&lid=4163&title=Wenger+in+dark+over+Henry+blow

[Jeff L]

For those of you based in NYC, what's the chances that you will see TH14 "hanging out" with Spike Lee ??!! ;)

[Rewinder]

For those of you based in NYC, what's the chances that you will see TH14 "hanging out" with Spike Lee ??!! ;)

I'm actually going to watch the game with them at nevadas before we go to a Knick game.................and then later a stripclub :p

[ibby]

Agreed. we have to go for the win, win and confidence is sky high for the Chelsea game & we will also win the group & escape all the big teams in the draw apart from Inter & Real Madrid.

I would start Baptista along with Ade & Van Persie playing on the left joining the strikeforce every so often.

I am going for a 3-0 win to the Arsenal, all goals coming in the second half

[JCGooner]

Agreed. we have to go for the win, win and confidence is sky high for the Chelsea game & we will also win the group & escape all the big teams in the draw apart from Inter & Real Madrid.

I would start Baptista along with Ade & Van Persie playing on the left joining the strikeforce every so often.

I am going for a 3-0 win to the Arsenal, all goals coming in the second half


you are being very optimistic, this porto side is much better than the performance they gave at emirates..a draw would be a terrific result..
as for Hamburg I'm sure they will play a reserve team on wednesday..why would they want to risk injuries when they are in a relegation fight??
I give our chances of progressing no more than 50-50

[ibby]

you are being very optimistic, this porto side is much better than the performance they gave at emirates..a draw would be a terrific result..
as for Hamburg I'm sure they will play a reserve team on wednesday..why would they want to risk injuries when they are in a relegation fight??
I give our chances of progressing no more than 50-50

I know, I thought about the result forhand but that result against Tottenham will give us a big boost for this match and for the game against Chelsea. If we keep Lucho quiet I think they won't cause that much problem for our players

[Dooglas]

i think the biggest threat will be quaresma.

but ive been wrong.

lets get the W 1-0 to the gunners!

[coltcannon]

Im nervous already. This might be the day Im waiting for to call in sick to work. I see 2-0, hopefully in our favor.

[soji22]

I'm hoping for the best

Don't underestimate Porto. Portugese clubs have a nack for upsetting English clubs.

Any club that has won the European Cup/UEFA Champions League on two occasions has to be taken seriously, even though a certain Jose Mourinho is no longer at the helm...

[crazy150]

This Porto team kinda scares me...they are in great form right now--leading their league and having just beaten CSKA in the CL. I'm hoping they play for the draw, and we sneak one in at the end for the win. However, expecting anything more that a draw on their home turf would probably be optimistic. 1-1 and we move on to get Real Madrid and Porto get Chelsea ;)