Arsenal will face AC Milan in the round of 16 of Europa League on Thursday at Emirates. It will be a real tough game for AC Milan to come back in the match as they are already 2 Goals behind in this tie in the first leg. The match is going to be highly interesting as the players of the Gunners might be overconfident about going through to the next round; but the AC Milan attacking lineup is really strong to break any defense of the World football any day. It will also be a managerial battle between Arsene Wenger and Gattuso. The result will subsequently decide their future for the respective clubs as both the clubs have only one chance to win one silverware in this season by winning the Europa League.
According to recent reports, Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin has been targeted by Serie A champions Juventus. The Spaniard has come under a lot of criticism of late with the Gunner’s faithful and an exit in the summer transfer window is on the cards. Arsenal has been rather abysmal this season and is highly unlikely to finish in the top 4 of the Premier League. However, only if they can win the Europa League can Arsenal have a shot at the Champions League next season. And like many of his Arsenal team-mates, Bellerin’s form has hit its disastrous peak after Arsenal suffered four losses on the trot.
However, Juventus have identified Bellerin as a long-term prospect at Turin after being impressed with his pace and attacking attributes. The 22-year-old Spaniard has been hinted to be a top defender but has come under a lot of scrutiny from the Arsenal fans after an Oxford Union interview which seemed to have damaged his reputation as a footballer.
Bellerin has not been as good as many Arsenal fans have hoped him to be and consistent poor performances have been heavily rumored with a possible exit from the Emirates Stadium at the end of the summer. He broke into the first team as a regular this season but his below-par efforts on the pitch have been criticized heavily by the fans on the popular Youtube channel Arsenal Fan TV.
Team News :
Arsenal :
David Ospina will play as the Goalkeeper for the Gunners. Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny and Monreal will be there in the defense for them. The midfield of Arsenal will comprise of two defensive midfielders Granit Xhaka and Mohamed Elneny. Jack Wilshere, Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan will play as attacking midfielders in the team for the Gunners while Danny Welbeck will be there as the lone man upfront for them.
AC Milan :
Donnarumma will start in the AC Milan Goal while Ricardo Rodriguez, Romagnoli, Bonucci and Borini will be there in the defense for them. Biglia, Kessie and Boaventura will be there in the Midfield for them. The trio of Suso, Cutrone and Calhanoglu will play at the upfront of the field for AC Milan.
Possible Starting Eleven :
Arsenal :(3-4-3)
Goalkeeper : Cech
Defenders : Koscielny, Mustafi, Chambers.
Midfielders : Bellerin, Wilshere, Xhaka, Kolasinac.
Attackers : Ozil, Mkhitaryan ; Welbeck.
AC Milan :
Goalkeeper : Donnarumma
Defenders : Calabria, Romagnoli, Bonucci, Rodriguez.
Midfielders : Kessie, Biglia, Bonaventura.
Attackers : Suso, Curtone, Calhanoglu.
My Predicted Scoreline :
AC Milan 1-2 Arsenal.
