While there aren’t any huge problems expected with Arsenal fans in Portugal on Wednesday, the local media are still reporting on how the police are feeling ahead of the game against Porto.
On CNN Portugal, a story is featured showing some fans of the Gunners enjoying a beer in a location called the Esplanadas da Ribeira as they wait for the Champions League game to start.
The video made it very clear that the Arsenal supporters were sitting and chatting, casually singing some chants, in a very chilled mood.
Still, CNN highlights that the local police are ‘vigilant’ and ‘attentive’ to any trouble that the fans from the Emirates side may cause.
It’s said there are 2526 Arsenal fans in town, and it’s the ‘radical’ and ‘casual’ supporters that the local authorities are more worried about, with 30 officers watching them before they’re escorted to the Estádio do Dragão.
CNN many times mentions the beers that those who have travelled to watch the Gunners are drinking in the pre-game preparation, making it clear that the rising levels of alcohol could be the trigger for some trouble.
Right now, everything seems pretty calm in Porto, but we’ll see if things stay that way between now and the end of the game, perhaps all depending on how Arsenal fare in their clash.
