Who Should Start When Arsenal Face Porto In Their Vital Second Leg Game?

After two schoolboy errors ensured Arsenal squandered a vital lead in their first-leg encounter with Portuguese giants Porto, the Gunners now face the Portuguese side in the second-leg at the Emirates needing only a goal to settle things.

Arsene Wenger and his men are 2-1 down but posses the vital away goal and now need to ensure Porto fail to score and that they find the back of the net. The Champions League is a competition Wenger and Arsenal have failed to win and an exit in the fourth round will surely mean the return of critics towards Wenger and his youthful side.

So who should start for the Gunners? 

Goalkeeper

Last time the sides met Lukasz Fabianski had a shocker. But regular first choice Manuel Almunia is fit and firing and will be the obvious option for keeper. Fabianski will play back up.

Defence

There is still some concern over William Gallas's fitness. The Frenchman has missed Arsenal's last three games and although Sol Campbell and Mikael Silvestre have proved able back ups, the Gunners will stress on Gallas fitness. If the former captain is unable to participate then Sol Campbell looks fit enough to take his place.

The usual will take their place with Bacary Sagna at right back. The Frenchman was rested during the weekend clash and will be raring to go. The ever reliable Thomas Vermaelen will be in the centre whilst Gael Clichy will have the left back role.

Midfielders

The worrying sign of captain Cesc Fabregas limping off during the first half of Arsenal's encounter with Burnley has meant Wenger will have to make an assessment of his midfield maestro before the game. If Fabregas fails to regain fitness then Samir Nasri, who played so wonderfully on the weekend, will slot into his position whilst Alexandre Song, who was suspended for the Burnley clash, will take the defensive duties. Abou Diaby will take the left side.

Forwards

Goals are what Arsenal desperately need against Porto and with the home ground advantage and their sensational hunger it shouldn't be to hard. However, Nicklas Bendtner's horrific shooting against Burnely will have fans a little sceptical.

But with Andrei Arshavin on the left and the slowly returning to form Theo Walcott on the right Arsenal fans may not have to stress too much.

Substitutes

With seven places on the subs bench Lukasz Fabianski will take the deputy keeper role. If Gallas is fit then Campbell will come to the bench with Armand Traore. If Fabregas is fit then Walcott may drop to the bench and Nasri moves to the forward line. Then Emmanuel Eboue, Eduardo Da Silva, and Denilson take the rest.