AC MILAN V ARSENAL! FULL MATCH PREVIEW!

15th February 2012 sees AC Milan host Arsenal at the San Siro for the 1st leg of the Champions League Knock out match. AC Milan sit top of Serie A with a game in hand over Juventus. AC Milan have been very solid at home this season losing only once (to inter Milan). They have 3 draws at home and 7 wins.

Arsenal sit in 4th place in the premier league after Thierry Henry scored a late winner against Sunderland at the stadium of light. However that was just Arsenal’s 5th away win and their away record stands at 5 wins, 2 draws and 6 defeats.

AC Milan have  2 wins and one lose in there home champions league games in this season beating both BATE and Plzen 2-0 and losing to Barcelona 3-2. Arsenal have faired better away in the champions league than league winning 2 of their 4 games but their last away game in the champions league was lost 3-1 to Olympiakos. 

Team News:

AC Milan

Alessandro Nesta has resumed full training for AC Milan but is not expected to be rushed back for the match, as is the case with Alexandre Pato too. Robinho is set to start in the usual 4-3-1-2 formation. Clarence Seedorf or Urby Emanuelson have the potential to also slot in, but Liverpool loanee Alberto Aquilani is still out injured and will play not part at San Siro on Wednesday.

Mark van Bommel and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were unavailable through suspension in the team’s last Serie A game but should be in the starting line-up against Arsenal. Ibrahimovic could step in for promising young striker Stephan El Shaarawy, who scored at the weekend in their away win against Udinese. Antonio Cassano is still out of action for the Italian giants after undergoing heart surgery in November 2011.

Possible Lineups:

                     Abbiati
Abate, Mexes, Thiago Silva, Mesbah
Ambrosini, Van Bommel, Nocerino
                  Emanuelson
         Ibrahimovic, Robinho

Arsenal

Arsenal head to Italy without defender Per Mertesacker, who picked up an ankle injury in this weekend’s Premier League win over Sunderland. Kieran Gibbs could see a speedy return from injury as a result, with Thomas Vermaelen shifted back into centre-back where he is most comfortable. Aaron Ramsey started on the bench on Saturday and is likely to be drafted into the side’s 4-3-3 formation in place of Tomas Rosicky.

Abou Diaby is out with a muscle problem, Carl Jenkinson remains absent with a stress fracture in his back and Jack Wilshere is yet to make an appearance for the Gunners this season with a persistent ankle injury. Brazilian Andre Santos is over a month away from returning after surgery on his ankle and Thierry Henry is unlikely to make the starting eleven but could feature in the San Siro showdown in the second half if he is fully fit. Gervinho is unlikely to feature after losing the African Cup of Nations final on Sunday – the Ivory Coast national team were defeated on penalties after a 0-0 draw against Zambia.

Possible Lineups:

                         Szczesny
Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Gibbs
               Arteta, Song, Ramsey
Oxlade-Chamberlain, Van Persie, Walcott

Last 6 Games (league):

AC Milan:        WDLWWL

Arsenal:        WWDLLL

Prediction: AC Milan 2 – 0 Arsenal

My Pick: AC Milan to win at 2.25 (5/4)
AC Milan to win or draw at 1.36 (4/11)

Outside Bet: Zlatan Ibrahimovic to score first at 6 (5/1)