Milan Preview - RvP Back, Kolo Still Out

Welcome to another Gunners Live Match Preview, expect a straight to the point preview with an overview of both sides - AC Milan & Arsenal.

The Gunners are boosted by the return of striker Robin van Persie, the Dutchman has missed most of the season due to a thigh injury and will be welcomed back into the squad. Kolo Toure isn’t ready just yet, but Emmanuel Eboue is back from suspension and could start on the right hand side of midfield.

So it leaves Rosicky, Toure, Song and long term absentee Eduardo on the sidelines. Obviously, Toure and Rosicky will come straight back into the starting line up when fit and Song will fight for a central midfield place behind Mathieu Flamini when the Cameroonian comes back from his medial knee ligament injury.

As for Milan, Clarence Seedorf is a doubt with a leg injury sustained in the 1-1 draw against Lazio at the weekend. Kaka is also likely to be avaliable after missing Saturday’s game with injury. Overall, Milan seem to have a fairly fit squad to choose from other than Brazilian hitman Ronaldo who is out for a long while with a knee injury.

A look at the predicted line up’s…

Arsenal:

   -Almunia-
-Sagna-Gallas-Senderos-Clichy-
-Eboue-Fabregas-Flamini-Diaby
                -Hleb-
-Adebayor-

AC Milan:

-Kalac-
-Oddo-Nesta-Kaladze-Maldini-
-Ambrosini-Seedorf-Gattuso-Pirlo
  -Pato-Kaka

Manager View’s:

Arséne Wenger:

“We have to be tight defensively out there because they tore Man United apart in the first 20 minutes of the second leg at the San Siro last season.

“It is important for us to start strongly in defence, but also not to hide every time we win the ball.

“What is good from the first result is we know every time we get the ball we are incited to go for a goal. When you win 2-0 away from home sometimes subconsciously you think you only have to defend. On that basis 0-0 is not a bad result because you know defence is not good enough. You know will have to attack as well.”

Carlos Ancelotti:

“I saw Arsenal today, they struggled like us, but in any case they have great qualities and they have recovered important players. We must not think about playing too physically, we will only have to play our football without worrying.”

My View:

This is a tough, tough match but you know what? I’m going for Arsenal, purely because our pace, energy and pure work ethic could be enough to get a goal and take us through. RvP is back as well, another bonus, so maybe there could be a heroic return for the star Dutchman?

Just remember, if it’s a score draw - Arsenal go through!

My Prediction: AC Milan 1-1 Arsenal

Expect a long match report on match day evening!

Come On You Gunners!