AC Milan vs Arsenal - Champions League Match Preview

By Matt Holmes / February 15, 2012

Team News ahead of Arsenal's trip to the San Siro in Italy for the first leg Champions League second round tie against AC Milan. The game is screened live on ITV 1. Arsene Wenger won't be able to call on German centre-back Per Mertesacker who is ruled out with the ankle injury he picked up on Saturday's visit to the Stadium of Light. Better news though comes with the return of Kieran Gibbs, who is fit again after a groin problem. He slot should back into left full-back, allowing Thomas Vermaelen to switch back to his preferred central role alongside Laurent Koscielny with Mertesacker out. Swiss international defender Johan Djourou is another option. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said;

"Mertesacker's replacement will be the most natural... That means I will put Vermaelen back in the middle." "Gibbs looks to be ready and I might start him, but I haven't decided completely yet."

Tonight's match will prove to be a found farewell for striker Thierry Henry, Arsenal's greatest ever player, who returns to the New York Red Bulls after the game. He came off the bench at the weekend against Sunderland to score a terrific late winner. Having missed a late penalty in the African Cup of Nations penalty shoot-out defeat against Zambia, forward Gervinho is not due back with Arsenal until later in the week. Long term absentees Jack Wilshere (ankle) and Abou Diaby (hamstring) are still weeks and weeks away from returning to the midfield, whilst defenders Carl Jenkinson (back) and Andre Santos (ankle) aren't yet fit either. For AC Milan, experienced trio Alessandro Nesta, Pato and Kevin-Prince Boateng all returned to training for AC Milan this week and have returned to training for AC Milan and could start. Former Arsenal utility man Mathieu Flamini has also recorded from a knock and could play against his former team. Christian Abbiati and Mario Yepes have been declared fit and former Juventus, Inter Milan and Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has returned from his domestic suspension.

Line-ups from;

Arsenal (from): Szczesny, Gibbs, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Sagna, Song, Arteta, Ramsey, Rosicky, Walcott, van Persie, Fabianski, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arshavin, Henry, Coquelin, Benayoun, Park, Djourou.