Champions League: Arsene Wenger full of confidence Arsenal can best Milan

ARSENE Wenger last night said he would not waste his time if he did not believe Arsenal can beat AC Milan and go on to win the Champions League.

The Rossoneri currently lead Juventus at the top of Serie A, with Massimiliano Allegri’s men looking to make up for last season’s defeat at the same stage of the competition to Tottenham by dumping the Gunners out of Europe. Arsenal go into this evening’s first leg of their last 16 tie on the back of successive Barclays Premier League wins which have propelled them back up into the top four.

Wenger, whose side recorded a famous 2-0 win on their last visit to Stadio Giuseppe Meazza against the then holders four seasons ago, maintains the Gunners mean business.

“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 declared. “We have shown we can win everywhere and I have full confidence in this team.”

“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.”

Wenger accepts Arsenal are in a defining period of their campaign, with an FA Cup fifth round tie at Sunderland following on Sunday. He continued: “We are concentrated on every game we play. We do not choose the games. We are Arsenal Football Club and we just try to win the next game. Is it FA Cup, Champions League or Championship? I believe it is important we are strong everywhere.”

Wenger is expected to field an attacking side tonight, which could include livewire England under-21 international Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The Frenchman, though, expressed concern over the playing surface, Milan not immune to the Arctic conditions which have swept Europe.

Arsenal will have to shackle the threat of experienced Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic tonight, who is serving a domestic ban for a red card against Napoli. The 30-year-old netted a brace against the Gunners at Emirates Stadium when he played for Barcelona in their Champions League quarter-final two seasons ago.

Centre-back Thomas Vermaelen will again look to shackle the 6ft 3in frontman, whom he went up against at close quarters as a youngster when at Ajax. “When I was playing regularly, he had left already, but I had a lot of sessions with him when I was a young player,” said the 26-year-old Belgian international. “I know his qualities, like everybody does. He is a strong and technical player.”