Arsenal - AC Milan Preview

  vs.   

AC Milan-Arsenal FC
UEFA Champions League
Knockout Round of 16 (2nd Leg)
San Siro - Milan, Italy
4 March 2008   7:45 GMT

OUR SQUAD: Lehmann, Diaby, Sagna, Fabregas, Senderos, Gallas, van Persie, Hleb, Denilson, Flamini, Gilberto, Clichy, Almunia, Adebayor, Eboue, Bendtner, Hoyte, Walcott

MISSING: Toure, Rosicky, Song, Djourou, Eduardo

FORM: Milan have drew 1-1 in three of their last five Serie A matches and have only one once in those five matches.  However, they are 3-2-0 in their last five league home matches. Milan have been to five consecutive Champions League Quarterfinals and haven’t lost a home European match  all season.  Milan currently sit 5th in Serie A, three points behind Fiorentina.  Meanwhile, Arsenal have dropped four points in the last week in the league to Birmingham City and Aston Villa.  Arsenal have scored twelve goals in their last five away matches and are facing former Cup champions for the fourth consecutive year in the Knockout round.

STATS: Fillipo Inzaghi is Milan’s leading scorer in the Champions League this year with 5.  Cesc Fabregas has 3 for Arsenal.  Arsenal are competing in their tenth straight UEFA Champions League while Milan are in their sixth.  Milan have scored twelve goals in their last 6 home matches after failing to score in the four previous matches.  In the last 15 minutes of league matches, Arsenal have outscored their opponents 22-3.

INJURIES: Robin van Persie returns to the side for the first time since the Tottenham match in early January.  He has played only three matches since October.  Kolo Toure is “not far” from recovering from his calf injury suffered upon his return from the ACN and will not feature in Milan.  Djourou has returned to training but Rosicky has not.  Eduardo will miss the rest of the season due to the broken leg he suffered at Birmingham.