Arsenal face AC Milan in the Europa League tomorrow night, with a 2-0 lead from the first leg.
Although still without Alexandre Lacazette following his surgery, and the cup-tied Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, there’s good news on the injury front.
Spanish full-back duo Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal are back in the squad following knee and back injuries respectively, while there was also a positive update about Shkodran Mustafi.
The German international went off with a groin problem in the 3-0 win over Watford on Sunday, but it seems that was precautionary and he took full part in the training session on Wednesday morning.
Giving the latest, Wenger said, “Everybody is available apart from Lacazette, who’s coming back into training but he’s too short to be available tomorrow.”
While Aaron Ramsey outlined the team’s approach to the game, saying, “We can’t afford to take our foot off the gas – we’ll approach it as if it’s 0-0.”
Positive about tomorrow, but as Ramsey says, the job isn’t done.
Yes but let’s not play conservatively because of that (a la Mourinho)
Start a back 4 of Bellerin, Kosh, Mustafi and Monreal, with some counter-attacking potential ahead of them.
Not sure we do conservative
Heh, yeah, conservative suggests a level of control and intentional defending. Not so much the Arsenal way.
Intentional defending… lmao
Back four of Niles, holding, kosh, Nacho would be better
And keep Elneny at CDM. Our midfield generally looks more assured when he’s in there.
Yea not done, but it’s better than 0-0. I wouldn’t want us to be in Milan’s shoes – needing to score 3 away goals against a team that outclassed us a week earlier on our own patch.
Sounds positive on the injury front (whaaaaat?!) – let’s hope we do the job and then ideally avoid Atletico in next round. COYG
Atletico are the only team left that looks better than us, hopefully they will have a mare somewhere and get knocked out before we meet them
That said it seems we can beat or get beaten by just about anybody these days so it’s anybody’s guess what will happen …
We can’t beat Bayern.
Fortunately we don’t have to play them
Deeney, Sevilla…..upcoming Milan ..what a week….i am just happy
I’m with you bro, just don’t forget how easily it can turn. Remember Carabao cup final… Mustafi vs Aguero..
goes both ways it seems
When Ramsey states that they’ll approach it as 0-0, is he saying he’s playing as a striker ?
If he scores another hat-trick he can play wherever he wants
Given our striking options I’d say that is as it should be.
Could be, he averages about 5 goals a season. Sad and sadder that it’s probably more than Welbeck.
There is a tendency for all players and coaches to take a somewhat defensive approch when leading by 2-0. But that is very dangerous for Arsenal, which haven’t a defensive game. “Sit back and defend” will almost certainly oust Arsenal from the EL. So Ramsey is right: Arsenal must attack as if it was 0-0 from the whistle and through the 94 minutes.
In principle, yes. In reality, that Milan team does not 3 goals and a clean sheet against a team like Arsenal, away from home, in them.
Best approach is probably to focus on keeping possession (preferably in their half). Let’s keep Elneny in the team after his impressive performance against Watford
This is a massive game for us this season – I really hope we have a full stadium tomorrow night with a buzzing atmosphere, let’s build on the positives over the last week or so and get ourselves into the quarters.
COYG. What an atmosphere it will be at the Emirates. I hope we see the same aggressive attitude as the last two games, creating chances and always pressing forward. Best defense is a good offense.
This tournament goes to May! So we can’t get ahead of ourselves. But if we continue, Laca can come back and it’ll be his chance to shine.
Maybe we’re just better suited to play second tier European sides rather than Premier League teams.
Just don’t play like manu. That was dreadful
I’d say “that was delightful” seeing manure play badly and get dumped out of Europe!!!!
“there’s good news on the injury front.
Spanish…”
Oh how I was hoping for Santi. Poor Santi.
“Everybody is available apart from Lacazette”
WELCOME BACK SANTI
gattuso has already hinted they gave us too much space and time last game.
we need to take our chances because we always give other teams loads of chances to hit the target.
Does Welbz miss the final for a fit Lacazette ?
He misses the quarter final if Lacca is fit unless he plays on the left!