Europa League • Arsenal-Milan Preview: Double Decker Bus

Even if Milan’s squad had as much quality and experience as Arsenal’s, going to London with a two goal deficit is a nearly insurmountable burden to overcome. But Milan don’t even have a comparable squad, the stability, nor the experience. And we have a lot of injuries. So truly, it might be better to just go to London as tourists and maybe take a ride on a double decker bus.

Better than football tomorrow

Wenger’s squad were deflated and disorganized before they came to the San Siro and cleaned up our own pitch with us last week. They followed that up with a resounding 3-0 win over Watford on the weekend, so don’t expect them to be crumbling mentally or anything. For that win over Watford, Wenger lined up Cech; Miatland-Niles, Mustafi, Holding, Kolasinac; Elneny, Xhaka; Mkhitaryan, Özil, Iwobi; and Aubameyang. Obviously, the diamond that Galliani sold for peanuts in Aubameyang is still ineligible to face the team whose youth sector he came through. And Lacazette is out injured. But other than that, facing his squad will be a bit like being hit by a double decker bus.

Gattuso has the opposite problem in that Calabria is not fit, and he’s still missing Conti and Abate, so he doesn’t even have a right back to bring with. Kessie is not fully fit either, and may not start or even play, so that leaves our midfield as helpless as a deer in the headlights. So our two weakest spots from last week are even weaker, or in the case of right back, now non-exixstent. I wonder how much Gattuso wants to sub himself on for this game? Truly I think I would rather step out in front of a double decker bus.

"We should have gone sightseeing"

For the sake of the image of calcio abroad, having the Milan squad go on a tour of London tomorrow might be a better option. Especially since this is likely our last Europa League match of the season. But obviously, that is not how sport works. They have to show up and fight, no matter how high the odds are stacked against them. And miracles do happen… just usually to other teams, not ours. So you may not want to watch this one, unless you feel like being flattened by the Gunners.

This post inspired by the music of The Smiths’ “There is a Light That Never Goes Out”

Europa League Round of 16 2^nd Leg

Arsenal vs. AC Milan

Thursday, March 15 • 9:05pm CET (4:05pm EDT)

This match will be shown LIVE on Fox Sports 1 and ESPN Deportes in the U.S.