Kevin-Prince Boateng (15 mins)
De Souza Robinho (38 mins)
De Souza Robinho (49 mins)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (79 mins)
UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg
, Feb 15, 2012
Ground: Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
, Kickoff: 19:45 , Att 68,257
Team news
Wenger's not for wasting time Arsene Wenger claims he would not waste his time if he did not believe Arsenal can beat AC Milan and go on to win the Champions League.
The Rossoneri currently lead Juventus at the top of Serie A, with Massimiliano Allegri's men looking to make up for last season's defeat at the same stage of the competition to Tottenham by dumping the Gunners out of Europe.
Arsenal go into the first leg of their last 16 tie on the back of successive Barclays Premier League wins which have propelled them back up into the top four.
Wenger, whose side recorded a famous 2-0 win on their last visit to Stadio Giuseppe Meazza against the then holders four seasons ago, maintains the Gunners mean business.
"If I would think we have no chance to win the game I would stay at home. I don't like to waste my time," the Arsenal manager declared.
"I believe what makes football interesting is that you can win everywhere.
"We have shown we can win everywhere and I have full confidence in this team that we can do it." "We will try to play our game. Milan are a good side. We think we are a good side.
"We will attack, they certainly will as well. So it should be a good game." Wenger accepts Arsenal are in a defining period of their campaign, with an FA Cup fifth round tie at Sunderland following on Sunday.
He continued: "We are concentrated on every game we play. We do not choose the games.
"We are Arsenal Football Club and we just try to win the next game.
"Is it FA Cup, Champions League or Championship? I believe it is important we are strong everywhere." Wenger is expected to field an attacking side which will probably include livewire England under-21 international Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri knows tomorrow's match up will be as big a test as the Spurs clash, but will have his Serie A leaders well prepared to combat Arsenal's flowing game.
"Technically we have to play well and know that there are certain errors [from last season against Tottenham] which ultimately should not be repeated," the AC Milan manager told a news conference.
"Last year we made one mistake late against Tottenham, on Wednesday we have great patience and careful, otherwise you complicate everything.
AC Milan vs Arsenal
Last modified 22:02 15/02/12
Gunners suffer San Siro shellacking Arsenal's Champions League dreams were shattered by a humiliating 4-0 defeat to AC Milan in the first leg of their last 16 clash at the San Siro.
Kevin-Prince Boateng fired the Italians ahead on 15 minutes with a sublime strike, before two goals by former Manchester City frontman Robinho and a penalty from the impressive Zlatan Ibrahimovic put the tie beyond the Gunners.
Arsenal never really settled and were punished for some careless possession - and not even the introduction of former captain Thierry Henry in the final game of his loan spell from New York Red Bulls could spark a fairytale comeback.
The heaviest European away defeat for Arsenal will be a bitter pill to swallow, but Arsene Wenger must lift his squad again for what is now a crucial FA Cup fifth-round tie at Sunderland on Saturday ahead of the Premier League derby with Tottenham - when the Gunners will look to keep alive hopes of qualifying again for the Champions League with a top-four finish.
Milan had not won any of their previous seven matches against English clubs, knocked out of the Champions League at this stage by Tottenham last season.
However, the Serie A leaders never looked in danger of a repeat, well organised from kick-off as Arsenal struggled to get any sort of foothold, regardless of a poor San Siro pitch which had recently seen the turf relaid down the flanks.
Veteran Dutchman Clarence Seedorf - a European Cup winner with three different clubs - drilled a low effort into the side-netting, before going off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury - compatriot Urby Emanuelson replacing him.
Boateng fired the Italians ahead with a quarter of an hour gone. The former Portsmouth and Tottenham midfielder collected a chip to the edge of the Arsenal penalty area on his chest, before turning to fire the ball over Wojciech Szczesny and in off the underside of the crossbar.
Van Persie's cut-back was blocked as the Gunners captain got clear down the left, before Laurent Koscielny's flicked header from a floated 25th minute free-kick was straight at Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati.
Thomas Vermaelen lost out to Robinho, who darted clear but then then failed to cross for Ibrahimovic - who was clear in the middle - as Koscielny made a saving block.
It was 2-0 in the 38th minute when Ibrahimovic charged down the left channel and crossed for Robinho to nod in from six yards.
Two minutes before the break, Koscielny hobbled off and was replaced by Johan Djourou - and another change followed at the start of the second half as Theo Walcott was replaced by Henry.
However, before the World Cup winner had a chance to make an impact, Milan extended their lead.
Vermaelen slipped, which gave Robinho the space to shoot at the edge of the box, and the Brazilian - whose #32.5million transfer to City in 2008 shattered the British record fee - slammed home what looked to be a tie-clinching third goal in the 49th minute.
It was now a case of damage limitation for Arsenal - and it could have been worse but for a complete miskick by Luca Antonini when he was set free following another swift counter.
The value of an away goal, however, meant the tie would still be alive were the English side to fashion a meaningful opportunity of their own.
Abbiati produced a brilliant one-handed save to turn around van Persie's volley after a flick-on by Henry on 65 minutes.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaced Kieran Gibbs as Alex Song dropped into the back four.
| Player rating out of ten | Player name | Substitution | Did they score? | Player's disciplinary record | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | Christian Abbiati | 7/10 | |||
| 20 | Ignazio Abate | 6/10 | |||
| 5 | Philippe Mexes |
|
7/10 | ||
| 33 | Emiliano Thiago Silva | 6/10 | |||
| 77 | Luca Antonini |
|
6/10 | ||
| 10 | Clarence Seedorf(sub 11) |
|
5/10 | ||
| 4 | Mark Van Bommel | 6/10 | |||
| 22 | Antonio Nocerino | 7/10 | |||
| 27 | Kevin-Prince Boateng(sub 68) |
|
|
8/10 | |
| 11 | Zlatan Ibrahimovic |
|
8/10 | ||
| 70 | De Souza Robinho(sub 83) |
|
|
8/10 | |
| Substitutes | |||||
| 1 | Marco Amelia | ||||
| 7 | da Silva Alexandre Pato(sub 83) |
|
6/10 | ||
| 13 | Alessandro Nesta | ||||
| 23 | Massimo Ambrosini(sub 68) |
|
|
6/10 | |
| 25 | Daniele Bonera | ||||
| 28 | Urby Emanuelson(sub 11) |
|
7/10 | ||
| 92 | Stephan El Shaarawi | ||||
| Player rating out of ten | Player name | Did they score? | Player's disciplinary record | Substitution | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Wojciech Szczesny | 6/10 | |||
| 3 | Bacary Sagna | 6/10 | |||
| 6 | Laurent Koscielny(sub 43) |
|
5/10 | ||
| 5 | Thomas Vermaelen | 5/10 | |||
| 28 | Kieran Gibbs(sub 65) |
|
5/10 | ||
| 17 | Alex Song |
|
5/10 | ||
| 7 | Tomas Rosicky | 5/10 | |||
| 14 | Theo Walcott(sub 45) |
|
5/10 | ||
| 16 | Aaron Ramsey | 5/10 | |||
| 8 | Mikel Arteta | 5/10 | |||
| 10 | Robin van Persie | 6/10 | |||
| Substitutes | |||||
| 21 | Lukasz Fabianski | ||||
| 12 | Thierry Henry(sub 45) |
|
6/10 | ||
| 15 | Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain(sub 65) |
|
7/10 | ||
| 20 | Johan Djourou(sub 43) |
|
|
5/10 | |
| 23 | Andrey Arshavin | ||||
| 30 | Yossi Benayoun | ||||
| 39 | Francis Coquelin | ||||
| Team | AC Milan | Arsenal |
|---|









