AC Milan vs Arsenal Match Preview

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Arsenal’s hopes of reaching the Champions League via a domestic top four finish have been all but extinguished after their defeat to Brighton last Sunday at the AMEX Stadium. It was another performance to forget for the Gunners as Arsene Wenger’s men limped to defeat once more.

If they are to return to Europe’s elite, then they will have to do so by winning this season’s Europa League. A feat that on current form looks highly unlikely but at the same time with nothing left to play for they do at least have the relative luxury of being able to put their full focus into trying to emulate what Manchester United did almost 12 months ago.

Standing in their way though, are the Italian outfit AC Milan who provide Arsenal’s opposition in the Europa League Round of 16. The club which is now managed by Gennaro Gattuso has been going through something of a fallow period of its own as of late, so here you can draw a few parallels between the two sides.

You only need to go back as far as 2012 for the last time they met in European competition, however what does offer up a harsh dose of reality is the fact that back then they were competing in the Champions League, while now they are having to make do with playing in UEFA’s secondary club competition.

This is perhaps an indication of the relative turmoil at both AC Milan and Arsenal have been in over the past few years. The only difference being that at least with the former there are signs of new life being formed at the San Siro.

That is because former club great Gennaro Gattuso took over the club back in November 2017 when the former Italian giants were arguably at their lowest ebb. Since his arrival the club have moved steadily up the Serie A table as they currently find themselves 7th in the table with hopes of returning to Europe next season.

If Milan have left the darkest days behind them then Arsenal seem to be entering theirs, quite simply this competition now is the only thing that will offer their current crop of players and their long serving manager any salvation.

It literally is win or bust for Arsenal, but with a such a wretched run of form as of late even with the talent that they have at their disposal you do wonder if the 68 year-old Wenger can pull off another masterstroke and win the piece of silverware that would keep him in a job for at least another season.

They will go into this first leg without Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang who is cup-tied after his move from Borussia Dortmund while Alexander Lacazette is out injured, the fact that they have no top-class firepower to utilise will be something of a blow.

Not only that but AC Milan will come into this game fresher due to the fact the latest instalment of their cross-town rivalry with Inter was postponed on Sunday due to the sudden passing of Fiorentina captain Davide Astori.

The deck is certainly stacked against Arsenal but if ever there was time to dig deep and offer a performance to the many critical eyes that will be watching then this surely will be it. If they fail, then the fallout from this game could be huge.