Arsenal’s trip to Milan on Thursday night in the Europa League takes on added significance after four straight defeats for the Gunners. A first defeat at home to Ostersunds in the last round was the precursor, before two thrashings at the hands of Manchester City and then a disappointing loss to Brighton on Sunday.
These poor results have merely added to the dissatisfaction surrounding the club following a number of poor years and Arsene Wenger’s position as manager is under more scrutiny. He’s reluctant to resign or break his contract, but with fan approval ratings at an all-time low and rumours that the board is heading in that direction, then he might find that he’s out of work before the end of this season.
The Europa League is Arsenal’s last remaining chance of winning silverware this season and is also their only way back into the Champions League, as they currently sit sixth in the Premier League, 13 points behind Spurs in fourth.
Much was expected of AC Milan at the beginning of this season, after spending £175 million on new players last summer, but they failed to get results and Vincenzo Montella was relieved of his duties. Former midfielder Gennaro Gattuso replaced him and the Rossoneri are on a 13-game unbeaten run, including five wins in their last six games. This run of form has seem them climb to seventh in the Serie A table and emerge as genuine contenders to win this season’s Europa League.
AC Milan vs. Arsenal Predictions
This is all or nothing for Arsenal and Italy is a notoriously difficult place to get a result. They rightly go into this game as underdogs, but as we all know with the Gunners, they can put a performance in when they want to. However, their current form suggests they won’t, so expect AC Milan to win.
AC Milan vs. Arsenal Betting Tips
Head to Head
- Arsenal haven’t gone beyond the last 16 of a European competition since 2009/10, when they were eliminated by Barcelona in the quarter finals of the Champions League.
- The Gunners have lost their last three European trips to Italy (excluding qualifiers), failing to score in defeats to Roma (0-1), Milan (0-4) and Napoli (0-2).
- Milan have lost just one of their last 18 home UEFA Cup/Europa League matches (W14 D3), losing 1-0 to Roda JC in February 2002 (excluding qualifiers).
- Current Milan manager Gennaro Gattuso played the full 90 minutes the last time Arsenal won against Milan at the San Siro in March 2008.
- Milan’s Fabio Borini is averaging a goal or assist every 73 minutes in the Europa League this season (two goals, three assists in 366 minutes of action). However, the Italian has failed to score or assist in any of his seven previous career appearances against Arsenal and has never been on the winning side against them (D2 L5).
- Arsenal (28) and Milan (27) are the two teams still left in the competition to have used the most players in this season’s Europa League.
- The Gunners have scored 18 goals in the Europa League this season, with only Real Sociedad (19) and Zenit St. Petersburg (20) scoring more.
- However, eight of the goals scored by Arsenal were from players no longer at the club: Olivier Giroud (3), Theo Walcott (3), Alexis Sanchez (1) and Mathieu Debuchy (1).
AC Milan Team News
The only injury facing manager Gennaro Gattuso is Andrea Conti, who’s slowly working his way back to fitness. He returned to training recently, but hasn’t built up enough fitness to force his way back into a matchday squad.
Arsenal Team News
Alexandre Lacazette is still recovering from his knee operation and isn’t close to returning to the field, while fellow striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is cup tied for Thursday’s trip to Milan. With both strikers out, Danny Welbeck looks set to lead the attack. David Ospina looks likely to continue in goal.
