By Shaun Stephens
Arsenal without a win in four travel to AC Milan who are unbeaten in 13.
Arsenal travel to the San Siro looking to end a run of four games without a win when they play AC Milan in the last 16 of the Europa League tonight.
For four games straight, the Gunners have been losing.
For 13 games straight, AC Milan haven’t known losing.
Arsene Wenger’s side have not won a game since their 3-0 first leg victory over swedish side FK Ostersunds in the last round of the competition. This is the first time Arsenal have lost four games consecutively since 2002.
Arsenal have four players missing for tonight’s game. Hector Bellerin, Nacho Monreal, Alexandre Lacazette, all miss out through injury. While Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is eligible due to him appearing for Dortmund earlier in the competition.
Milan are enjoying a rich vein of form and are unbeaten in 13. Gennaro Gattuso has been a revolution since he took charge of a club where he had so much success as a player. Gattuso took over from Vincenzo Montella after he was sacked in late November.
His Milan team currently sit in seventh place of Serie A. They are flying at the moment and in their last game they won a penalty shootout against Lazio to reach the Coppa Italia final. Gattuso has made his side a formidable force and they have not conceded a goal in six matches. The former Rangers man has this Milan team fighting for each other and Arsenal will have to rediscover their top form if they are to come away with a result.
Many Arsenal fans will feel that the Europa League is the only route to take if they are to reach next years champions league. Arsene Wenger’s men currently sit in sixth place 13 points adrift from tottenham in fourth. It will be no easy task against this in from Milan team.
This looks the tie of the round as both sides look to get one step closer to Europa League glory.
