Arteta sticks with winning formula for Porto trip
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta kept faith with the team that thrashed Burnley 5-0 at the weekend for Wednesday's Champions League last 16 first leg at FC Porto.
Leandro Trossard leads what has been a free-flowing attack of late with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli nominally starting to the left and right of the Belgian.
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 21, 2024
Jakub Kiwior continues to fill in for Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back as the Ukrainian recovers from a calf problem. Gabriel Jesus is still out with a knee injury.
Wendell returns from a domestic ban to start on the left side of Porto's defence with Nigeria international Zaidu Sanusi sidelined by a knee injury picked up last weekend.
Arsenal are playing their first Champions League knockout tie for seven years. They last made it to the quarterfinals back in 2010.
Starting line-ups:
FC Porto (4-2-3-1)
Diogo Costa; Joao Mario, Otavio, Pepe (capt), Wendell; Nico Gonzalez, Alan Varela; Francisco Conceicao, Pepe, Galeno; Evanilson
Coach: Sergio Conceicao (POR)
Arsenal (4-3-3)
David Raya; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel, Jakub Kiwior; Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard (capt), Kai Havertz; Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard
Coach: Mikel Arteta (ESP)
Referee: Serdar Gozubuyuk (NED)
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