Arsenal travel to Italy to face AC Milan in the first leg of their round-of-16 Champions League match.
Arsenal will have to re-arrange their defence when they take on AC Milan tonight in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League match.
The Gunners will likely be forced to move Thomas Vermaelen to centre back and probably re-introduce full-back Kieran Gibbs after his long injury lay off, due to the injury to Per Mertesacker who will be out for several weeks.
The return of Gibbs will be a tonic as Vermaelen, usually a centre back, had been forced into emergency full-back cover due to the glut of injuries at that position. Gibbs has been out since October after groin surgery and may well be match rusty.
Tonight's game represents probably the final occasion Thierry Henry will wear an Arsenal shirt in competitive football as he returns to the New York Red Bulls after the game in order to prepare for the Major League Soccer season.
BritEvents.com has tickets available for the MLS New York Red Bulls games so all you Thierry Henry fans can still catch him in action when you holiday in the US.
Henry will likely start on the bench against Milan with Arsenal's top scorer and captain Robin van Persie leading the line. Henry has proved a canny loan acquisition with three goals in his substitute appearances, including the winner at Sunderland at the weekend. Manager Arsene Wenger must hope one or both of his star strikers can find the net tonight so that Arsenal can take an advantage home with them.
Milan have had injury problems of their own but now are back to almost full strength. Their own top goal scorer, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, is available once more after a domestic suspension and he is the danger man for Arsenal's defence.
Arsenal, who are currently sitting in fourth place in the Premier League, are only one of two English clubs left in Europe's top competition, Chelsea being the other. They'll need a good result in Italy tonight if they are to progress to the quarter finals and ensure English representation in the last eight.
Chelsea play their last 16 game, also against Italian opponents, Napoli, next Tuesday, 21 February, with the first leg in Italy.
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