13Feb

Selection headaches and Milan lie in wait for Arsenal

by Swaroop

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Arsenal have been here before. The last time they were here, they beat Barcelona at the Emirates before losing at the Nou Camp. Staunch defenders of Arsene Wenger always point to Arsenal’s outstanding record of qualifying for the Champions League year-in, year-out for the last dozen years and a bit.

But for possessing such an outstanding record, one wonders why Arsenal have not reached beyond the quarter-finals more than twice. While I’m not the greatest when it comes to calculating probability and game theory, the mathematical laureates who came up with that will be scratching their backsides wondering why Arsenal have never won the Champions League in their illustrious history. And given the firepower possessed by Real Madrid and Barcelona amongst others, it looks like Arsenal’s trophy drought in Europe will continue for one more year at least. And given their dicey league position, the San Siro could well be their last away fixture in the Champions League at least till 2013.

The last time the bookmakers were heavily against the Gunners in this tournament, they sashayed past Real Madrid, slalomed past Juventus and stumbled past Villareal before Barcelona started having their number. Since then it’s all been Barcelona: on the pitch as well as off the pitch.

AC Milan have lost their way a bit in Europe even though they won the thing in 2007. Since then it has been a rebuilding process which has seen established stars nearing the limelight of their careers make way for younger players like Alexandre Pato.

The last time the Gunners were in town, they used the pace of Theo Walcott to kill the game after Cesc Fabregas had given the visitors the lead. But both teams have undergone a sea change since then. The likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, yet to prove himself in the Champions League, has replaced the likes of Alberto Gilardino. With Pato a doubtful starter because of injury, the Italian giants will look to the burly, sometimes inspirational, sometimes sleepy, Swede giant for the goals.

Selection headaches

As far as Arsenal are concerned, there could be some interesting selection headaches for Arsene Wenger. While Francis Coquelin has played well at fullback, will he be again thrust into the limelight so Thomas Vermaelen and Laurent Koscielny can be partnered as centre-backs following the injury to Per Mertesacker? Or will Kieran Gibbs come into the equation? Or will Alex Song play centre-back with the improving Tomas Rosicky form a three-man midfield with Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey? Or will Johann Djourou come back after an absence of sorts from the first XI?

Up front also there are some interesting questions. The much-maligned Andrey Arshavin provided the assist for Thierry Henry’s winner against Sunderland. Would Wenger be tempted to start with the Russian instead of Theo Walcott? What about the other: Alex Oxlade Chamberlain? Lots of questions to answer for both teams. Or will Henry, playing his last game before he reports back to the New York Red Bulls, be a surprise starter?

Wenger, while talking about the game, did say that he would look to attack and get that all important away goal. AC Milan, like Arsenal, came away with all three points after going behind in the last league game: at the La Fruili against Udinese.

While it takes two stanzas to win any knockout game, the team that blinks first at the San Siro may have to do all the running at north London: and if that team is AC Milan, Arsenal will feel that they have one leg in quarter-final: Arsenal have not lost to any opponents not named Manchester United at the Emirates in the history of the Champions League.

Posted by Arsenal fan Swaroop Swaminathan

Follow Swaroop on Twitter @persiesque