Arsenal can restore some pride against AC Milan

Arsenal host Italian giants AC Milan this evening in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

The Gunners go into the tie 4-o down from the first leg at the San Siro. The game turned out to be a nightmare for Arsene Wenger’s side.

Nightmare

Absolute everything that could go wrong went wrong that night. AC Milan ruthlessly exposed all Arsenal’s defensive weaknesses in that game and Arsenal looked a shambles. However since that defeat Arsenal have claimed big victories over Tottenham and Liverpool.

Confidence

Those two victories seem to have brought the confidence back to the players. The team has played well but more importantly they have got the results they required. The results were paramount over the performance.

The Gunners comeback from two goals down against Tottenham was probably their second best display of the season, behind their 5-3 victory at Chelsea. Confidence breeds success and Arsenal have lacked success in recent years.

Form

When the two teams last met AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was absolutely unplayable. Everything that was good about Milan’s play involved the mercurial star. The Swede hit a midweek hat-trick against Palermo and is bang in form.

However he seems to flatter to deceive on English soil. Ironically the only time he has performed well in England was against Arsenal, when he scored two goals for Barcelona at Emirates Stadium. How this game goes will largely depend on if the Swede is up for this game.

Impossible?

It is not impossible for Arsenal to overcome the four goal deficit but it is unlikely. No team has ever overcame a four-goal deficit in the Champions League era. Although Deportivo managed to beat AC Milan 4-0 at home after losing 4-1 at the San Siro.

The crucial fact in that result though was the away goal, which Arsenal don’t have. It would take a brave man to suggest that Arsenal will progress into the quarter-finals. I think AC Milan just have far too much experience in these sorts of games, despite that 2004 loss to Deportivo.

It would take a complete collapse from them and like most Italian teams they know how to shut out a tie. I just can’t see it happening.

Doubts

Arsenal have fitness doubts over midfield pair Yossi Benayoun and Tomas Rosicky. Abou Diaby will miss out with hamstring injury picked up in the victory at Anfield. Full-back Kieran Gibbs is carrying a slight knock but is expected to be passed fit.

Milan have some injury concerns of their own. Their problems are in midfield as well with Kevin Prince-Boateng and Clarence Seedorf both struggling to be fit. The Rossoneri will leave it till the latest possible moment to decide on the pair.

Pride

Even if Arsenal don’t go through to the next round the Gunners need to make sure they restore some pride tonight. A good victory will keep their season ticking along, even if they do exit the competition. They have built up a bit of momentum of late and they won’t want to ruin it with a poor display.

The Gunners are starting to look more and more of a threat to Tottenham for third place in the Premier League and another win will just add to the momentum the team has built up in recent weeks.

I have a feeling that Arsenal will beat AC Milan but exit the competition. Arsenal’s season is looking a lot brighter than it did a couple of weeks ago though. A glorious failure tonight will prove a far more satisfying result than going out of the competition with a whimper.

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