ARTETA WHIPS UP FANS BUT NEEDS HIS GUNNERS TO STAY CALM IN THE STORM

IF MIKEL ARTETA gets his wish, Emirates Stadium will be louder than ever tonight.

- Simon Collings

The Arsenal manager has issued a rallying cry to supporters as his side look to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2010.

Arteta yesterday told fans to “bring your noise” and warned Porto: “This stadium is going to have the energy that you have never seen in your life.”

Given Arsenal must overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg in Portugal three weeks ago, it is no surprise Arteta wants to whip up the crowd.

The challenge for his players, though, is to find control and calm in what could be a chaotic atmosphere.

It was around this time last year that Arsenal’s season began to unravel, as they crashed out of the Europa League and their Premier League title charge faded.

One of the accusations thrown at them was they were too emotional and lacked the ruthless composure shown by rivals Manchester City.

“The emotions are a negative,” said Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville. “It’s not a positive for me in a title race.”

This Arsenal side looks a different beast to last season, though, and tonight is an opportunity to prove how much they have come on.

Arteta has told his players to use “emotional control” and stressed how they need to be “intelligent”, with the tie in the balance and Porto ready to make things tough.