Abbiati taking nothing for granted

AC Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati has warned his team not to underestimate Arsenal in their Champions League last 16 clash on Tuesday.

The Serie A champions have one foot in the quarter finals after a 4-0 victory against the Gunners in the first leg at San Siro last month.

However, Abbiati is taking nothing for granted, and reminded that Deportivo La Coruna overturned a three-goal deficit against Milan in the 2004 Champions League quarter-finals.

“No, (the tie is not over), because Milan have bad memories of that experience against Deportivo,” Abbiati told Uefa.com.

“We definitely have a good advantage and we need to make the most of that. But we will have to work hard until the end.”

The 34-year-old custodian admitted he is relishing the prospect of facing Robin van Persie, whom he singled out as Arsenal’s main threat on Tuesday.

“He is very dangerous,” Abiatti said. “I like him very much. He is a great player, still young, and he has great qualities.”

“I think we will have to be careful against Arsenal and especially against him.”

“It is always nice to come up against forwards of that standard in matches like this. When two big teams play each other, it definitely provides a spectacle.”