Arsenal take on AC Milan in the Europa League Last 16 first-leg tie at the San Siro today.
The Gunners have lost their last four games and it would take a miracle now for them to secure a top-four spot in the league.
The best chance the North London based outfit have of making it to the Champions League next season is winning the Europa League.
But they will have to knock out one of European footballs giants AC Milan before getting too carried away.
The Italian giants may be a household name but former Arsenal star and Sky Sports football pundit Charlie Nicholas thinks they are ‘bog standard’.
In his match prediction, after slamming the Arsenal defence, calling Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi an ’embarrassment’ he then proceeded to explain why the Gunners will go onto win the game.
He even game a scoreline, 2-1 to the Gunners with Danny Welbeck – yes Danny Welbeck – to score first.
Arsenal only have the Europa League to play for so according to that could prove extra motivation.
See More: Scout Report: West Brom Target Okay Yokuslu – The Midfielder Maestro Causing A Storm The Black Sea
Nicholas wrote in his Sky Sports preview: “AC Milan are bog standard and don’t score many goals, sit seventh in Serie A with just 37 goals scored and 30 conceded, so they are far from the football machine of days gone by.
“At least Arsenal have goals in them and this is the competition they’re all in for, so I actually think there is value in them as outsiders to win on Thursday night.”
Playmaker of Turkish origin Mesut Ozil is set to start for Arsenal. He will be up against fellow Germany born playmaker of Turkish origin Hakan Calhanoglu.
AC Milan have not actually conceded a goal in their last six games and are unbeaten in 13, not quite ‘bog standard’ perhaps.
