Arsenal are brimming with new hope, having beaten Watford just days after beating AC Milan at San Siro in the Europa League. They are in charge of the tie, as they look to qualify for the quarterfinals of the competition, by finishing the job when AC Milan travel to Emirates tomorrow. Milan beat Girona by a solitary goal at the weekend and have nothing to lose, having shipped two away goals in the first leg.
Arsenal beat Watford at home last weekend but have lost the last three games they played at home before that game, in three different competitions. They will look to score early and finish the game but Milan have enough quality to keep Arsenal on their toes. Here is the predicted lineup Arsene Wenger might field for this tie:
Team News:
Alexandre Lacazette and Santi Cazorla are all but ruled out of this game for Arsenal. Shkodran Mustafi, Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal are all suffering from niggles but the latter two could make the starting XI in this game. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who picked up a goal and an assist against Watford, is ineligible to play in the UEL for Arsenal.
Expected lineup (4-2-3-1):
Defence:
David Ospina has been preferred for the Europa League games by Wenger and the latter should stick with him for this crunch clash. Laurent Koscielny missed the game against Watford at the weekend but is back in the squad and should start at the heart of the backline. He could be partnered with Rob Holding, who did a decent job against the Hornets.
Fullbacks Monreal and Bellerin are both first choices for Wenger, who revealed that they have a good chance of turning fit by Thursday. They are expected to start on the left and the right flanks respectively.
Midfield:
Granit Xhaka had a solid game at San Siro and will hope to put in a similar performance in the midfield at the Emirates this week. Aaron Ramsey who was also rested for the weekend scored against Milan in the first leg and should partner Xhaka in the midfield.
Attack:
Henrikh Mkhitaryan was the man of the match against Watford and has also scored against AC Milan. He is bang in form and will be the danger man for the visitors. He should start on the left side of the attack while Mesut Ozil will also keep his place in the side, starting on the right flank.
Danny Welbeck remains the only choice to lead the attack with Lacazette absent and Aubameyang ineligible. He should keep his place in the side with Jack Wilshere starting in a no.10 role.
Here is how they might line up:
