Arsenal vs Porto LIVE: Champions League team news, line-ups and more tonight

Mikel Arteta didn’t rule Gabriel Martinelli out of tonight’s match during his press conference yesterday, but the Arsenal winger has been forced to withdraw from the upcoming Brazil squad.

That’s due to the injury that he picked up in the 6-0 win over Sheffield United, and which forced Martinelli to sit out Saturday’s win against Brentford.

Martinelli sat out training yesterday and Arteta said: “We still have 24 hours and we’re trying to have everyone fit for tomorrow.”

Arsenal will need to be more “streetwise” than they were last time out in Porto – where the hosts frustrated Arsenal by slowing Arteta’s team down and stopping their attacks with a series of fouls.

Captain Martin Odegaard believes Brentford’s approach at the Emirates on Saturday was good preparation.

“We will take a lot of good things,” Odegaard said. “It was a really good practice for this game coming up. We had to deal with a lot of different situation, a lot of time wasting.

“We had to control our emotions the whole game and I think we did that brilliantly. It was really good practice for another big game and we did really well.

“Top of the table so of course we have to build on that momentum and the good feeling we have at the moment. That’s the goal, to keep that going.”

Arsenal were stunned by Galeno’s last-minute goal in Porto but their response has been impressive. Arsenal returned to Premier League action to thrash Newcastle 4-1 and Sheffield United 6-0, before that late-win against Brentford on Saturday night.

Can they continue that momentum tonight?

Mikel Arteta wants to create a special night at the Emirates as Arsenal bid to reach their first Champions League quarter-final since 2010 against Porto.

“That’s the opportunity that we have. In front of our people, in our stadium for 96 minutes,” he said. “Bring your energy, bring your noise and let’s do it together. I think the impact that they can make is incredible. I don’t think they realise.

“It’s a beautiful opportunity to live one of those nights. It’s been 14 years (since a Champions League quarter-final) so everything that we put in there is going to be worth it.”

Arsenal 3-0 Porto (3-1 on aggregate)

Arsenal: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Jorginho, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Trossard

Porto: Costa; João Mário, Pepe, Otavio, Wendell; Gonzalez, Varela; Conceicao, Pepê, Galeno; Evanilson

Gabriel Martinelli, who missed out on Arsenal’s win over Brentford after picking up a “slight cut” in the thrashing of Sheffield United last week, will play no part in what is a huge blow.

Oleksandr Zinchenko returned to action from the bench, but Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jurrien Timber remain out. David Raya will return in goal after Aaron Ramsdale stepped in against Brentford.

Porto sit third in Liga Portugal, behind rivals Sporting and Benfica. Striker Mehdi Taremi missed the first leg and is still out due to injury but Pepe remains as fit as ever and will captain the side at the age of 41.

When is Arsenal vs Porto?

It will kick off at 8pm GMT on Tuesday 12 March at the Emirates Stadium.

The tie will be shown live on TNT Sports, while customers can stream the match live on Discovery +.

Hello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the Champions League last-16 second leg between Arsenal and Porto from the Emirates.

It’s been seven years since they last hosted a Champions League knockout tie, and they were knocked out in the last-16 every season between 2011 and 2017.

Stay with us right here for all the build-up, team news and match action!