Arsène Wenger described it as "the ultimate test", with Cesc
Fábregas admitting he hoped Arsenal would eventually be compared
favourably to this evening's opponents. Yet both manager and
midfielder betrayed an eagerness for the confrontation. Milan
trained at the Emirates last night with the strut of world-beaters;
this evening, the Gunners will attempt to knock them off their
stride.
There is renewed urgency to Arsenal. Saturday's humiliation at
Manchester United may have stung the Premier League leaders' pride,
but it also served to focus minds. Defeat to Chelsea in the Carling
Cup final last season was followed by elimination from the FA Cup
and Champions League in quick succession. This time round they can
concentrate on the two competitions in which they retain an
interest from a position of genuine strength.
Top of the Premier League by five points, they will tear into
the European Cup holders tonight seeing an opportunity to exorcise
their frustrations from Old Trafford. "The defeat at United was
difficult and surprising, but they gave a top-class performance and
we were swept away," said Wenger. "That can happen. My players will
bounce back in this game, don't worry. I'm highly confident of the
quality and the mental strength of this team, and the ambition of
my players.
"Many people have written us off this season and we have always
responded well. Last year the Carling Cup final created a big upset
for us, and we lost straight away in the FA Cup, but we were in a
much worse position in the league. We had to say: 'Listen, let's
save what can be saved.' This year is completely different.
"Even so, this game is the ultimate test. We're in the position
of challengers because Milan are the holders of the Champions
League. Usually the first leg of a tie like this is decisive, not
only mathematically but mentally, strengthening belief on one side
and weakening it on the other. They have quality and experience,
but we can beat them. Elimination on Saturday actually clarifies
things very well. Now it's down to quality."
The pedigree on show tonight, from both sides, is undeniable.
Arsenal may be one of Europe's emerging forces, but Milan are
arguably the canniest the continent can offer. As a club, they have
won the competition seven times. As a team, they are struggling in
fifth place in Serie A - 21 points adrift, they are more off the
pace than Liverpool here - but this competition brings out the best
in them. Clarence Seedorf and Paolo Maldini, the latter having made
his 1,000th professional appearance on Saturday, have won the
trophy nine times between them. Arsenal have yet to claim it
once.
If the task awaiting Mathieu Flamini is to nullify Kaka, then
Fábregas must attempt to dominate the likes of Gennaro Gattuso,
Massimo Ambrosini and Andrea Pirlo. "It's probably the ultimate
challenge, and the key will be in midfield where they have strong
and intelligent players," said the Spaniard. "They're one of the
best in Europe and even if they're not as good as they used to be
in the league, they are capable of scoring a goal here and they
still know how to defend at San Siro.
"But we're not scared of anything. We respect them a lot because
they're a side of great players who have won nearly everything. But
we want to be like them. This is a game where we can start to show
we are ready to take on that challenge."
Wenger will welcome back Gaël Clichy and Bacary Sagna, though he
continues to be denied Manuel Almunia, with the Spaniard still
suffering the after-effects of a virus. There had been a period of
introspection in the immediate wake of their 4-0 drubbing in
Manchester, though Wenger instigated a more upbeat mood in training
yesterday. "Sometimes you forget how good you are when you have a
big disappointment," added the Arsenal manager, who will take
charge of his 100th Champions League game at the club. "The players
were hurt by the defeat, but people have bad days at the
office.
"What is important is that we have big targets. This is such a
big game, but it is also an opportunity to show how good we are. We
are playing against the best, a team that have a great record.
People talk about this as a game between the young and the old, and
teams do cross each other sometimes when one is going one way and
the other is going a different way. We can express our talents in a
game of this magnitude."
Youth v experience
Arsenal
Lehmann 38
Sagna 25
Gallas 30
Touré 26
Clichy 22
Eboué 24
Flamini 23
Fábregas 20
Hleb 26
Adebayor 23
Eduardo 24
Average 25.5
Milan
Kalac 35
Bonera 26
Kaladze 29
Nesta 31
Jankulovski 30
Gattuso 30
Pirlo 28
Ambrosini 30
Kaka 25
Gilardino 25
Seedorf 31
Average 29.1
