Arsenal vs AC Milan Champions League: Preview and Live Score

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AC Milan vs Arsenal: Live Score and Live Updates

Arsenal and AC Milan are going to face each other in the first leg match of the first knock out round of Champions League 2007-2008. The match will take place at the Arsenal home ground, Emirates Stadium, on 20 February 2008. A mouth watering clash is now expected at the Emirates stadium that day as two of the most popular European clubs are going to meet each other in a crucial match.

Match: Arsenal vs AC Milan, First Leg Match of First Knock Out Round of Champions League

Venue: Emirates Stadium

Date: 20 February 2008, Wednesday

Timing: 19:45 GMT

Live on: Sky Sports 2

Arsenal has been handled one of the toughest draws of the last 16 round of Champions League. Though they have been impressive in premier league this season, the Gunners suffered a humiliating 0-4 defeat at Manchester United on Saturday evening. Thus, they have been crashed out of FA Cup this season. Earlier, Arsene Wenger boys failed to reach the final of Carling Cup after suffering a big-margin defeat to arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur. However, their premier league run is going on pretty smoothly with only one defeat so far this season. Arsenal is leading the league table with five points clear off second-placed Manchester United.

AC Milan, on the other hand, has been showing an ordinary performance in Serie A this season with only 38 points at the fourth position of the point table. Milan is now way behind the league leader Inter Milan in the league with a deficit of 21 points with 15 matches at hand. However, interestingly AC Milan has managed to hold on their red-hot form in Champions League. The defending champion has successfully replicated their previous season’s form this season as well. Milan progressed to the last 16 round of Champions league as the group champion from group D with the only one lose to Celtic in the group phase.

Arsenal, though, confirmed their berth in the knock out stage without facing any strong challenge, they have not been as consistent in the group stage of champions league as they have been in premier league. However, they could make it to last 16 of Champions league with from Group H, where they finished second to Spanish club Sevilla.

Arsenal could not yet win the Champions League trophy. Their best performance in Champions league was in 2005-2006 season where they were the finalist. In contrast, AC Milan has won the trophy of Champions League for seven times so far including their last season triumph. The interesting thing is that Arsenal and AC Milan faced each other only once so far in the history. The two clubs met in European Super Cup in 1994. So, AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini played that match and he is perhaps the only current player who has the experience of playing that match.

Despite the unimpressive performance at Old Trafford in the FA Cup fifth round match, Arsenal is expected to appear with their full rhythm when they take on defending champion AC Milan at home. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger termed the match as season defining. So, it is for sure that Arsenal has taken the match with huge significance.

Independent reported:

"We have the toughest draw," Wenger views a fixture which, in effect, is the legacy of him deploying a below-strength side against the eventual group winners back in late November. "This game will define whether or not we can win the European Cup. On the other hand, two years ago we played Real Madrid and went through. Last year we played Eindhoven but went out. It's very difficult to predict what's going to happen. The only thing we do know is that if you don't play at your best against Milan, you're out."

Following the defeat to Manchester United, the Gunners now need an inspirational victory over AC Milan, which could give them a psychological advantage in their pursuit to win the league title besides progressing further step in champions league. AC Milan’s title hope in Serie A has already been faded. So, they must try their best to defend the title of Champions League. They have a world class team with some world class players like Kaka, Paolo Maldini, Cafu, Gennaro Gattuso etc.

AC Milan will miss their Brazilian striker Ronaldo as he picked up a knee injury last week. Alexandre Pato is also doubtful for the trip to Arsenal as he sustained an ankle injury recently with what he is most likely to remain out for the Champions League tie with Arsenal. However, the major concern of AC Milan is their star midfielder Kaka, who was given rest in the goalless league match against Parma. The megastar is recovering from a knee injury.

Independent reported:

The biggest worry for Milan, however, remains World Player of the Year, Kaka, who has been resting a sore knee. Arsenal's coach, Arsène Wenger, will breathe a huge sigh of relief if the Brazilian's name does not appear on the teamsheet. The player's personal press officer said last week that Kaka would have to "stay still for a while and do some physio," adding "there is no need for an operation but he will probably miss the Arsenal match". However, it is unlikely that Ancelotti will risk leaving his star player out for such a season-defining game.

The young Arsenal side will face an experienced AC Milan. Actually, since Thierry Henry’s move to Barcelona last summer, there was hardly anyone who could even think off Arsenal could win any title this season. It is true that they have not won any trophy, but they are played excellently well in premier league this season. Arsene Wenger is directing a young side towards the league title. Arsenal has got an unexpected contribution from the young players like Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure, Mathieu Flamini, Alexandre Song etc.

AC Milan has one of the most experienced squads of European teams. They have only two regular team players: Kakáa and Andrea Pirlo, who are under 30 years of age. It is true that AC Milan will have huge experience to take on Arsenal, but the Wenger boys are desperate to show their talent and skill at Champions League and are determined to progress further in the competition as it is like a dream to the youngsters to take part in the tournament of this kind.

Arsenal vs AC Milan Champions League: Online Live Score

If you can not enjoy the live action of the match on your television, you can get the online live score and updates of the match from the following links of online live score sites:

Live Score

Goalzz

Footie Scorez

Sportpress

Goal.com

Actually, it is very hard to predict when two teams like Arsenal and AC Milan face each other in such a crucial match. AC Milan might be happy with at 1-1 draw, if not victory, against Arsenal considering the fact that they will get Arsenal at home in the second leg match up. Arsenal, in contrast, must be focused to capitalize on the home advantage seeking a victory at the home ground, as they know that the away match would not be that much easy for them. Anyway, we can expect an interesting and mouth watering clash between the two teams.