Arsenal vs AC Milan – Match Preview

Europa League | Preview

15/03/18

Fabrizio Andrea Bertani / Shutterstock.com

What a difference a week makes. After going on a run which saw them lose four straight matches in all competitions there has been something of a turn around for Arsenal after back to back victories, the first of those two wins coming last Thursday evening at the San Siro.

Arsene Wenger’s men travelled to Italy for their Europa League Round of 16 1st leg tie with AC Milan not being given much hope of success after a string of recent sub-par performances, so it would have come as something of a surprise to see the Gunners come out on top.

They come into the return leg at the Emirates with a 2-0 lead from their Italian exploits but at the same time they know that they job is only halfway complete. You only have to look at both Tottenham and Manchester United who have recently crashed out of Europe to know that you cannot take your opposition for granted when you are seemingly on top.

Goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Aaron Ramsey have put the North London outfit in the driving seat for this upcoming clash but at the same time Gennaro Gattuso and his Milan players know they have nothing to lose when the two clubs resume battle in a bid to reach the last eight of the competition.

A two-goal deficit is something that can be overturned, although the fact that the Italian side are going to have to go for it from the off means that they may well leave themselves exposed against an Arsenal side who certainly play better at home.

This was evident last Sunday when they made light work of Watford on their way to a 3-0 home win in the Premier League. It may well have been three more additional points, but it does not do a great deal in terms of their current standing in the table.

The hopes of a top four finish and a return to the Champions league next season seem to diminish with each week that passes, the problem being that even if they win they cannot seem to erode the hefty deficit that stands in front of them.

Therefore, the club will be pinning their hopes of winning the Europa League and entering Europe’s elite competition through the backdoor, while if they can overcome Milan then it will no doubt be a massive confidence booster for the rest of the season.

The Milanese followed up last Thursday’s home defeat to Arsenal with a slender 1-0 win over Genoa at the weekend, a win that came away from home courtesy of a goal from Andre Silva in the dying seconds of the game.

This shows that they are capable of winning on the road when it matters but it is going to take more attacking endeavour this time around while also making sure that their defence is watertight, if Arsenal score then it will only make it more of an uphill struggle.

Arsenal’s two impressive performances as of late will have no doubt lifted the mood in the red half of North London and they will be confident of getting over the line in their bid to continue their European exploits.

Quite simply Milan need to score to have any chance of moving onto the last eight, that is something they are capable of but at the same time I can envisage Arsenal coming out on top in the second leg also. The Gunners to record a both teams to score victory as their euro adventure writes another chapter.