A win in Milan tonight could give the players the boost that they currently need to get back on track in the domestic league. Although a defeat could leave the players hopes and confidence totally shattered

This game could not have come at either a better time or a worse time for the Arsenal squad who have had their confidence knocked a peg or two in the last couple of weeks.

Against Ac Milan in the home leg we played some good attacking football in the second half but could not quite get the all important goals, Adebayor looked rusty in front of goal, maybe the hair clippers were like Kryptonite to him.

Birmingham City away was a massive blow as the players watched one of their main squad players suffer a horrific injury then to lose a goal in the last few seconds of the game would have sapped a huge amount of energy from the players.

Aston Villa was just a follow on from the feeling against Birmingham. I do not buy Wenger’s ‘physically tired’ comments. Manchester United did not look anything like being tired against Fulham. If we were firing on all cylinders then we would want two games a week as teams do who have ‘the glow’

I was thinking that Bendtner’s goal would give the team confidence going into the Milan game but the truth is that we do not use results alone to inspire confidence, if we played well and lost 1-0 to Villa then I would be more confident. Arsenal players get confidence by playing good creative and attacking football. Chelsea and Manchester United gain confidence in results.

This sounds quite negative doesn’t it? It isn’t really. If we were playing someone like PSV away tonight then I would be very worried. Luckily we usually pull our socks up and pull out a big performance against the big clubs and I am hoping that is the case again this evening.

A win in Milan tonight could give the players the boost that they currently need to get back on track in the domestic league. Although a defeat could leave the players hopes and confidence totally shattered.

Like I mentioned in yesterdays post was that the introduction of Robin Van Persie in the squad is absolutely massive for the whole squad.

I do not expect him to come off the bench and score a hattrick. Van Persie will need weeks of football to get himself match sharp. Not alot of players can be out for that amount of time and just click back into top level. But he still has his fantastic natural ability which can unlock any defence.

Eboue will definitely come in on the right wing as his suspension will have given him time to improve his physical condition after the ACN, Arsene will also want his power and defensive cover.

The only question mark on the probable team line up is who will play on the left side of midfield. Wenger would probably choose Abou Diaby on the left with Hleb roaming behind Adebayor in attack. I would question Diaby’s natural defensive ability and would rather switch Hleb and Diaby around. This will probably happen during the match anyway but I would rather have Hleb on the left when we are defending which will give us a better shape and will also give Cesc Fabregas more space to make runs into the box and run past Adebayor, something that Hleb doesn’t do.

We are likely to see:

If we are losing late on in the game then we could see Walcott replace Eboue and Bendtner replace Diaby.

I am worried about the quality of Kaka and Pato who will give us alot more problems than they did at the Emirates. We will have to be strong defensively as a team if we are to cut their supply.

I have mentioned the fact that we haven’t showed the same form since the first half at Villa Park and if there is a time to reproduce that form then it is tonight.

I really want to give a prediction but it is pretty much impossible because it depends on what Arsenal show up tonight. If both teams play at their maximum then we will make their team dizzy with our quick passing and beat them 3-1 if we play as we did against Aston Villa then we will lose 2-0.

Cesc Fabregas wants Arsenal to play their normal attacking football.

He said: “We are young, but we are not scared of anything and we will play our game.”