AC Milan v Arsenal Preview: Gunners Capable of Champions League Glory, Claims Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is confident his side can defeat AC Milan and advance into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

The Gunners travel to the San Siro on Wednesday night for the first leg of their last-16 tie on the back of successive Premier League victories that has seen Wenger's side reclaim their place in the top four.

AC Milan currently lead Juventus at the top of Serie A and Massimiliano Allegri's men will be looking to avenge last season's defeat at the same stage of the competition to Tottenham by seeing off Arsenal's European challenge.

However, history would appear to favour Arsenal, as they have never been knocked out by Italian opposition over the course of a two-legged tie.

Indeed, the only previous meeting between the two sides saw Arsenal triumph courtesy of a goalless draw in London and a 2-0 victory in Italy.

"If I would think we have no chance to win the game I would stay at home. I don't like to waste my time," the Arsenal manager is quoted on ESPN.

"I believe what makes football interesting is that you can win everywhere. We have shown we can win everywhere and I have full confidence in this team that we can do it.

"We will try to play our game. Milan are a good side. We think we are a good side. We will attack, they certainly will as well. So it should be a good game."

The Arsenal manager admits he has studied Tottenham's victory over Milan last season but insists he has his own game plan for how to beat the Italians.

Spurs advanced to the quarter-finals at Milan's expense last season, courtesy of a late strike from Peter Crouch but Wenger says the Gunners will look to attack when the two sides meet at the San Siro.

"I have seen [that game]," Wenger told the official Arsenal Web site. "Milan had a lot of the ball and Tottenham caught them on the break at the end of the game.

"You never decide when you break, you break when you can. It was a game which was vastly dominated, especially in the second half, by Milan.

"We will not decide at the start of the game that we will sit in our half if we have to, like Tottenham did. We will do it and then try to catch them on the break.

"But at the start we will try to get out of our own half and try to get up there and play. Spurs won the game when they were dominated, but that is football today."

Team News

Arsenal centre back Per Mertesacker will miss the trip to Italy after the German international suffered an ankle injury against Sunderland on Saturday.

Defenders Carl Jenkinson (back) and Andre Santos (ankle) remain side-lined, while Abou Diaby (hamstring) and Jack Wilshire (ankle) are also out.

Kieran Gibbs is in line for a return following a groin problem, with Thomas Vermaelen expected to partner Laurent Koscielny in the centre of defence.