Nacho Monreal Starts – Arsenal Team vs AC Milan Confirmed

Milan returned to winning ways in Serie A at the weekend, Andre Silva scoring a last-minute victor to secure a 1-0 victory at Genoa that will give Gattuso’s men a lift as they head to London looking for the kind of display required to turn the tie on its head. It was about getting the job done tonight and being professional. Conceding first in games like this can often be crucial but he was saved somewhat by Arsenal’s quick reply.

The first half was an entertaining affair with both teams happy to attack.

Arsenal’s anxiety levels were rising when captain Laurent Koscielny limped off after taking a blow to his back.

Leading 2-0 from last week’s first leg at San Siro, the Gunners fell behind to a stunning Hakan Calhanoglu strike 10 minutes before half-time.

Yet at first glance it looked like a harsh penalty – and the second and third views didn’t change any minds.

As you can see, there is a delayed reaction before Welbeck falls after crossing the path of the Milan defender with little, if any contact.

Milan’s players and fans were visibly – and perhaps justifiably – angered by the decision to award Arsenal a penalty in the closing stages of the first half. When they got their second goal though, it once again felt somewhat undeserved. Xhaka had a shot from range which Donnarumma made a mess of and could not keep out. However, his parry bounced almost straight up, and the ball drifted into the goal, and the tie was basically over.

Needing two goals to advance, Milan were committing more bodies forward and Suso was just off-target before the visitors had a penalty appeal turned down when Silva was bundled over by Hector Bellerin. We’ve got ourselves a ball-game!

While the Gunners did enjoy their fair share of luck, nobody can deny they were the better side over the course of two legs and will be backing themselves to go all the way in the continental competition. However, it is very easy to envision a scenario, unlikely and unlucky, where Milan could have made this extremely hard.

In the context of that loss and the torrid form in which Arsenal entered the tie, the veteran French coach was particularly pleased with the character his team showed.

The Europa League quarter-final draw takes place tomorrow.

The teams Arsenal can play include: Atletico Madrid, Marseille, Lazio, RB Leipzig, RB Salzburg, Sporting Lisbon and CSKA Moscow.