European Champions AC Milan come into Wednesday's tie at Arsenal on a string of disappointing results, after drawing with both Livorno and Parma this past week. Both of those teams are lying low in Serie A and are potential candidates for relegation.

The Gunners, too, come into the game on the back of that shocking 4-0 defeat by Manchester United in the fifth round of the FA Cup, which saw them eliminated from the tournament. However, they will claim that they had only half their team available as they, too, have been struck with a terrible injury crisis.

A question remains over who Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti will field in goal on Wednesday night as both Nelson Dida and Zejlko Kalac are out with  back and finger injuries respectively. Australian international Kalac dislocated his index finger during training on Sunday morning and should he not take part in Ancelotti's practice session at the Emirates stadium, he will be replaced by third-choice goalkeeper Valerio Fiori, who has only started two games in his seven years at Milan.

Of Kalac, Ancelotti says: ''If he is in the right condition he will play. For a goalkeeper a finger is important, therefore we shall have to evaluate his conditions, otherwise Fiori will play."

The ex-Parma coach then went on to comment about the game and opponents Arsenal, saying: "I expect a very balanced and very difficult game for both teams. Arsenal are a team who play well, are very dynamic, play a very offensive football and have a lot of enthusiasm. I think Milan must play in their own way, with courage and personality, without leaving anything in their hands."

It is not only the Rossoneri coach who needs to worry about injuries. Arsene Wenger has his own problems after a long injury list that has seen nearly half the team in the medical room. Nevertheless, he will take some pleasure in knowing that he can recall midfielder Mathieu Flamini, striker Emmanuel Adebayor and full-back Gael Clichy.