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This match will be a fierce one and will be a strong test for Arteta and his boys on their readiness for the UCL. Porto are a pretty good team and are very composed when playing on home soil and they’ll be coming to that match to watch Arsenal play their football while they probably sit and hit on the counter. Arsenal should better improve on their offensive play and try to know when to fall back.
They should take cues from the match against West Ham because it could be similar to what Porto will be preparing for them. For the first leg I think double chancing on Arsenal is better and for the second leg giving Arsenal a straight win is preferable. Domestically, I think Arsenal will bounce back from the defeat from the Hammers and put up a fight for the league, I believe Arteta have learnt one or two lessons and how to make up for his errors.
Let's just wait and see how the two coaches from this team prepare their squad before this match is held, especially since the January transfer window will soon open. which means, it is very likely that Arsenal will target several pure center forwards who can at least be relied on more than Nketiah. so far, several names have been linked with the Gunners. and if that happens, it means that Arsenal are potentially heading towards changes that might be able to bring them much better than just hoping for Nketiah as a pure Arsenal sticker. I also hope that the meeting between these two teams will present an exciting and fierce battle. I am a supporter of the Gunners, and hope that Arteta is able to bring his team to full points at his home base of Porto. and actually, Arsenal has a chance for that.
However, this match will not be easy and will probably be their test in the last 16 phase of the Champions League. and if I refer to the current betting market, the Gunners are more favorites than the home team. but what is certain is that this match will be a very exciting match. because both teams carried out an offensive game. which means, there will be buying and selling attacks from these two teams. most importantly, the Gunners must not concede first. because, this match is an away match which in fact could bring down the mentality of the team as a whole. if Arsenal wins the match in the first leg, they have a big chance of winning the match at Emirates Stadium. however, if the situation were reversed, it could be that Arsenal will have difficulties when they host Porto at the Emirates Stadium. so, to be sure, let's just look at these two teams playing matches in their domestic leagues before the round of 16 starts.