please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Can the impossible become possible? We will find out on Tuesday as Arsenal try and overturn a four goal deficit against AC Milan in the Champions League. Arsenal went into the first leg against Milan in confident mood but in the end they could not cope with the qualities of Milan and left the San Siro with their Champions League dream all but over. Two goals from Robinho and a goal from Kevin Prince Boateng gave Milan a three goal lead before Zlatan Ibrahimovic converted a late penalty to all but finish off Arsenal. The Gunners will go into this game on the back of two outstanding wins in the league. Arsenal came back from two goals down to trash Tottenham at the Emirates and the following week they went to Anfield and got the three points against Liverpool. Those wins are even more impressive when you think about the state Arsenal had been in before the North London Derby. Getting thumped in Milan and then getting dumped out of the FA Cup by Sunderland. So Arsenal have shown great character to bounce back. AC Milan have also been in impressive form in their league, they trashed Palermo on Saturday and are still on top of Seria A. Under Massimo Allegri, Milan have started to show again why they are seen as one of the biggest clubs in the world. Arsenal will have to make history in the Champions if they are to make it to the last 8. No team has come back from four goals down after the first leg. So, if Arsenal are to achieve the impossible then they will make history. AC Milan found themselves in the same group as Barcelona so finishing as the winners in their group was always going to be a tough ask. Milan managed to secure a draw at the Nou Camp but could not avoid defeat at home against the champions of Europe. But with Viktoria Plzeň and BATE Borisov making up the rest of group H, Milan had the chance to at least get out of the group and they did just that. In Serie A, they currently sit in first place but Juventus do have two games in hand. Milan could only draw in the top of the table clash against Juventus last week. Zlatan Ibrahimovic completed a permanent move to AC Milan from Barcelona in the summer and he has not disappointed this season. So far he has got 25 goals in all competitions with five of them coming in the Champions League. His poor goal scoring record against English teams is well documented, in fact his three goals against English sides have all come against Arsenal. A talented player that can provide a moment of magic in an instant and Arsenal will have to keep him silent if they are to achieve the amazing task ahead of them. The highly talented Alexandre Pato has struggled with injuries problems this season and was even close to joining French side PSG after falling out with the manager at Milan. He is not fit for this game and the Gunners will be glad to hear that. In defence, Thiago Silva will be looking to shackle Robin Van Persie. This match up will be an interesting watch as it pits two world class players against each other. Antonio Nocerino has been the surprise player for Milan this season. A player that was purchased on the very last day of the transfer window for a fee in the region of €500,000 from Palermo. He has exceeded the expectations of many and his presence in the Milan midfield has helped them control games. He is also a player that has a lot of energy and will try to not let Arsenal settle in midfield. The amazing Clarence Seedorf is still an important player for Milan and his experience and technical skills will help Milan to take control of the midfield against Arsenal if he is on top form. Robinho who failed to impress in England with Manchester City has found his home in Milan and while not ever living up to the early promise of his career he has done well at Milan. Robinho got two of the four Milan goals against Arsenal. Kevin-Prince Boateng like Robinho has always been a highly talented player and like Robinho he has found his home at Milan. He tore Arsenal to pieces with his power and technical skills. Boateng opened the scoring against Arsenal with a stunning goal. He will be a very dangerous player on the break and Arsenal will have to try and do a better job of stopping Boateng compared to their efforts in the first leg. Robin Van Persie scored twice as Arsenal sealed all three points against Liverpool at Anfield. Those two goals meant Van Persie has now scored a total of 31 goals this season. An amazing return from a truly special player. If Arsenal are to produce the comebacks to end all comebacks then Van Persie will have to be at his very best. Mikel Arteta is a doubt after suffering a head injury in the win at Anfield. Arsenal have scored a total of 12 goals in their last two league games at the Emirates, so they are able to produce the goals that are needed against Milan. But, they will have produce a perfect performance if they are to score the goals and also keep the door closed if they are to progress in the Champions League. Theo Walcott has taken a lot of stick for his performances this season and he responded with two great goals against Spurs. Walcott will have to be at his clinical best on Tuesday. Arsenal have won their last four games in the league and have now opened up a three point lead over Chelsea who sit in fifth place. Retaining Champions League football for next season is their sole aim in the league and they are going about in the right way. Arsenal if they are to go out will want to at the very least go out with their heads held high and they will need to produce a quality performance to do so. You can never say never in football so nothing can be ruled out. Can Arsenal make the impossible possible? Tune in on Tuesday to find out. Teams News: Three Key Match-ups: please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image First Leg: please log in to view this image How They Got Here: please log in to view this image Broussia Dortmund 1 - 1 Arsenal Arsenal 2 - 1 Olympiacos Olympique Marseille 0 - 1 Arsenal Arsenal 0 - 0 Olympique Marseille Arsenal 2 - 1 Broussia Dortmund Olympiacos 3 - 1 Arsenal please log in to view this image Barcelona 2 - 2 AC Milan AC Milan 2 - 0 Viktoria Plzeň AC Milan 2 - 0 BATE Borisov BATE Borisov 1 - 1 AC Milan AC Milan 2 - 3 Barcelona Viktoria Plzeň 2 - 2 AC Milan Mangers Views: Arsene Wenger on possibly resting players: My Team: please log in to view this image Final Score: please log in to view this image
we have to be realistic here, we are 99.99999% out, i'm just going looking forward to a good much, don't have much expectations of going through, and I don't think we should be playing up our chances as many seem to be doing, this is AC Milan, not Wigan, you don't just play Milan and score 4 goals past them like they are nobodies, yes, in the world of football it can maybe happen, but let's no play that line too much and be realistic.
I think we should play the youngsters. We're out, we don't need unneccesary injuries. As for the result, AC battered Palermo yesterday, and are playing with style and confidence. Arsenal 0 - Milan 2.
Agreed. We are out and should rest players like rvp. No reason to get them injured vs what is a very phsyical side. Also whilst milan are here we should tap up thiago silva
Very nice thought, but it would never happen. He's worth about 25 million. Can you see arsene paying that much for a defender?
Do they? Dammit. Seriously though. He is one of the quickest defenders I have ever seen (at cb) and yet he doesnt seem to need his pace that often because he is positionally sound. The guy is quite simply world class
He's probably the world's best CB. His combination of pace, positioning and tackling make him exceptional. Other defenders have 1 or 2 of those attributes, but it's rare for someone to have all 3.
Resonable in possesion (although not amazing) too. He is probably the main reason why I think this tie is dead. Zlatan obviously will cause us problems again. We will still have a fear factor from the last game. I hope RVP doesnt get hurt. I would play him on second thoughts. Give it a bash. Then after 55 minutes sub him off if its not 2-0 at least.
There's no reason why we can't score the goals needed to go through. Tough, of course, possible, of course. We have to go into the game believing that we can give it a go, otherwise there's no point turning up. We've got a point to prove against Milan, and you can bet that the players want put right what went wrong in Milan. No better way to do it than in a re-match
I like the optimism, but come on, lets be serious. There is no way in hell we will score 5 past a rock solid Milan defence. The only way to beat them is to give them bungs, Redknapp style.
True, I think we live in hope rather than expectation, not delusion. I'm not confident we can put five past them but anything's possible; just predicting for fun anyway
I know where you're coming from, but I think the players have got to go into this game believing that they can do it, otherwise they might as well stay at home. They can't afford to be labelled 'deluded' for thinking this way, they have to believe. RVP said it best when he said 'They scored 4 against us at home, so there's no reason why we can't do the same to them' And that's exactly the right attitude to be taking into this game.
But again piskie you are confusing us with the players. We arent the players mate. We are just fans. We dont need the same midset as them. Just like we dont need to train every day like them. I could maybe believe that we could overturn this 4-0 vs a side very inferior to us. But this milan team are better than us in almost every department. Thats what makes this truely hard. I await to see how milan approach the game. They might walk around and just try and lose 2-0. But if they play the game to win then I expect we will lose on the night.
In Milan's shoes, I would go for total attack for 10 minutes. Assuming they scored - we'd be dead in the water. I predict we've got to defend really well to halt the aggression. If we survive that - we've got a chance however slim.
QPR fan in peace. Have got a fiver on you boys beating Milan tomorrow 5 nil. RVP to score 3. I was going to have a fiver bet on barton giving up tweeting but would prefer a least a fighting / sporting chance of winning.
Arteta is out, so is Benayoun, and Diaby, the odds were already stacked against us, and the it just got worst.
