FC Porto await Arsenal for the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie, so here is everything you need to know including how to watch Wednesday’s meeting live on TV.
The Gunners will fly to the Estadio do Dragao to celebrate their return to the knockout stage of UEFA’s elite club competition. Arsenal have not been in the round of 16 of the Champions League since 2016/17. They have also not won in the last 16 since back in the 2009/10 term.
Coincidentally, Arsenal also beat Porto to progress through to their most recent quarter-final appearance. A Nicklas Bendtner hat-trick helped Arsene Wenger’s side claim a 5-0 result at Emirates Stadium after losing the first leg 2-1. Arsenal have not met Porto since 2010, either.
Arsenal will hope Mikel Arteta’s side can now get their first-ever win at Porto on Wednesday night. The north London team drew 0-0 on their first-ever trip to the Dragoes in 2006 before losing 2-0 in 2008 and 2-1 in 2010. Arsenal have won every home encounter with Porto yet.
So, ahead of Arsenal heading to the Estadio do Dragao, here is everything you need to know about their Champions League last 16 first leg with Porto as Arteta seeks a historic result. He can also achieve the manager’s fifth win in the UEFA competition after seven matches so far.
When is FC Porto vs Arsenal?
UEFA has scheduled FC Porto to host Arsenal for the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Wednesday, February 21. It has also allocated the fixture for a 20:00 GMT kick-off.
How to watch FC Porto vs Arsenal
Fans in the UK can watch Arsenal’s return to the Champions League knockout stages live on TV through TNT Sports. It will broadcast their tie at Porto on TNT Sports 1 and in 4k on TNT Sports Ultimate. Coverage starts at 19:00 GMT on both channels ahead of kick-off at 20:00.
Live stream of FC Porto vs Arsenal
UK-based fans can also hear a live audio-only commentary stream of Arsenal’s trip on BBC Radio 5 Live. Its coverage of their match starts from 19:00 with an hour-long build-up show.
Arsenal team and injury news
Arsenal stomached some mixed news on the injury front ahead of visiting Porto with Gabriel Jesus absent at training. Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko were also absent on Tuesday as Arteta put the Gunners through their paces before then jetting over to Portugal.
Jesus has missed Arsenal’s recent games after suffering yet another aggravation to the knee injury he sustained at the 2022 World Cup with Brazil. While Tomiyasu suffered a calf injury at the 2024 Asian Cup with Japan. Zinchenko is also recovering from a calf injury of his own.
Yet while they were all absent at London Colney, Arteta had Thomas Partey (thigh) and Fabio Vieira (groin) in their fold. Partey has only featured once since August after requiring surgery shortly after a groin issue. Vieira has also not played since November after requiring surgery.
Arsenal’s only other long-term absentee against Porto will be Jurrien Timber as he continues to recover from an ACL injury. The 22-year-old suffered the blow on his Premier League bow last August. But Arteta could, potentially, get Timber back when Porto visit Arsenal in March.
Prediction: FC Porto (0) vs (2) Arsenal
Arsenal will look fondly on Porto’s recent results ahead of travelling to the Estadio do Dragao this Wednesday night. Conceicao’s team have only lost one and drawn two of their last 10 in all competitions. But they have not blown the opponent away since beating Moreirense 5-0.
Arouca also beat Porto 3-2 earlier in the month on the back of the Dragoes drawing 0-0 at home to Rio Ave. Porto also beat Shakhtar Donetsk 5-3 in their last game in the Champions League group stage while at home to add yet further extra fuel to Arsenal’s hopes of scoring.
Goals have been flowing at the Gunners since Arsenal’s winter break in January with 21 over their last five games alone. Arteta’s squad have even only conceded twice over that run with Nottingham Forest and Liverpool each beating David Raya once but also both unable to win.
Raya will now go in search of a 12th clean sheet for Arsenal at Porto having displaced Aaron Ramsdale as Arteta’s No1. The 28-year-old opened all five of their Champions League group stage ties that mattered after joining on loan from Brentford and registered three shutouts.
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