Arsenal vs Porto Prediction and Betting Tips: Declan Rice tipped at the Emirates
Arsenal may have been in rampant goalscoring form in the Premier League, but the Gunners failed to register a single shot on target in their 1-0 Champions League last-16 first-leg defeat to Porto.
Mikel Arteta's men are favourites to turn the tie around on Tuesday at the Emirates Stadium, where they beat PSV Eindhoven 4-0, Sevilla 2-0 and Lens 6-0 in the group stage, but streetwise Porto could prove awkward opponents.
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Team news
Gabriel Martinelli missed Arsenal's weekend win over Brentford due to a foot injury and remains a doubt, so Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus look to be competing for a start on the left flank.
Jesus is fit again but may struggle to dislodge in-form centre-forward Kai Havertz and Arsenal will not rush Takehiro Tomiyasu or long-term injury absentee Jurrien Timber back to action.
Goalkeeper David Raya was ineligible to face Brentford but will return at the expense of Aaron Ramsdale, whose error led to the Bees' goal in Saturday's 2-1 win for the Gunners.
Porto are still without injured defenders Zaidu Sanusi and Ivan Marcano, but Wendell should start at left-back, having overcome a knock.
Striker Mehdi Taremi, who missed the first leg, is available but he may have to settle for a place on the bench, as top goalscorer Evanilson leads the line for the visitors.
- Arsenal Predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Jesus
- Porto Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Costa; Mario, Pepe, Otavio, Wendell; Varela, Gonzalez; Conceicao, Pepe, Galeno; Evanilson
Arsenal vs Porto Tips
Arsenal's forwards were uncharacteristically subdued in the first leg against Porto, who scored a crucial injury-time goal through the impressive Galeno.
They thumped rivals Benfica 5-0 and won 3-0 at Portimonense in their last two Primeira Liga matches, but protecting their first-leg lead is likely to be the priority in north London on Tuesday.
Porto's defensive display during a scrappy first leg suggests it could be a tough night for Arsenal, who may require time to get into their rhythm.
They were 5-0 up at half-time against Lens in their last Champions League home game but needed an 86th-minute winner from Havertz to see off lowly Brentford at the weekend.
Porto have kept eight clean sheets in their last 12 matches in all competitions and are unlikely to offer their hosts any early encouragement, so the draw-Arsenal selection looks a good bet at 33/10 in the Half Time/Full Time market.
With the visitors expected to defend in numbers, Declan Rice could have a key role for Arsenal as the presence of the dependable Jorginho allows Rice to power forward from midfield.
The England international opened the scoring with a smart header against Brentford, extending his recent hot streak to three goals in his last five league appearances.
Rice scored a long-range stunner against former club West Ham and was in the right place at the right time to tuck away a cutback in last week's 6-0 rout of Sheffield United.
He had five shots, three of them on target, at Bramall Lane and is worth backing to find the net at 19/5 against a dogged Porto side.
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