“Since the draw I’ve felt that AC Milan could not have got a worse proposition than Arsenal. I believe that at this time Arsenal are one of the very top teams in Europe. They combine great quality with great speed. They will be very different from the team beaten 4-0 at Old Trafford. Arsenal defend with 10 men and attack with six. They are a very organised side, full of talented players. If you leave them any space, they counter attack with four or five players at such pace that the opposition cannot figure out what’s hitting them” – Fabio Capello.

The England manager fears for his old club and there are numerous reasons why Arsenal could knock out the current holders of the Champions League. Whilst much has been made of Arsenal’s 4-0 defeat at Old Trafford, the side was shorn of many of its best players. In addition, following their 5-1 defeat by Tottenham in the second leg of the Carling Cup semi-final, the Gunners have won all their league games (in some style) and now have a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

Arsenal can, and probably will, respond to the Old Trafford mauling with a much-improved performance against Milan. There is also a suspicion going into this game that the Gunners youngsters could have too much for a Milan side hampered by injuries to key players and who have perhaps relied on experience for too long.

'Much will depend on Kaka, but in Mathieu Flamini, Arsenal have one player who could shackle the mercurial Brazilian'


The Milan side features players well past their best including Paolo Maldini (who played his 1,000th game on Sunday), Cafu, Emerson and Serginho. The Rossoneri have struggled in Serie A this season and are currently in fifth position, three points off Fiorentina who occupy the final Champions League position.

Before the game at the Emirates, Carlo Ancelotti also has problems in goal, with third-choice Valerio Firio likely to start thanks to injuries to Dida and Zeljko Kalac. And without Ronaldo injured, Milan’s goalscoring threat will rest with Inzaghi, Gilardino, 18-year-old Alberto Paloschi and - if he is fit - Alexandre Pato.

Much will depend on Kaka, who was inspirational as Milan won the tournament last season. He was the difference at this stage last year, scoring the winner against Celtic in extra-time of the second leg. But in Mathieu Flamini, Arsenal have one player who could shackle the mercurial Brazilian.

If the Frenchman, nicknamed “Flattuso” after Milan’s Gennaro Gattuso, can play well in both games then Arsenal have a great chance of progressing. It is not only Flamini who will be looking to impress. Emmanuel Adebayor has been sensational in recent weeks, scoring nine goals in his last seven Premier League games. But he has yet to really dominate on the European stage. His battle with Alessandro Nesta over the two legs will be key to deciding who progresses from this intriguing tie.

The feeling around the Emirates at this time evokes memories of two seasons ago when Arsenal made a magnificent run to the Champions League final. At that time as well, they were under pressure in the league, fighting Spurs for fourth place, and they knocked out two giants of European football in Juventus and Real Madrid.

Both these sides at the time also had numerous ageing stars and the Arsenal youngsters, including Kolo Toure, Cesc Fabregas and Flamini, overcame their more illustrious opponents. Many commentators felt that Arsene Wenger made a mistake by playing his second team in the defeat in Seville in Arsenal’s last Champions League group game. As a result they finished second and come up against one of the most fancied teams in the tournament. B

But if they can get past Kaka, Pirlo et al, they will believe they can bring Europe’s premier trophy back to the Emirates for the first time in their history. To catch all the action from the Champions League, log onto 101 Great Goals: http://101greatgoals.com/