AC Milan vs Arsenal as it happened: Europa League first leg

Match report: Restorative win for Gunners at San Siro Feature: ​Five things we learned from Arsenal's victory

Henrikh Mkhitaryan crashes Arsenal in front in the San Siro (Getty Images)

Arsenal travel to AC Milan in their last-16 Europa League clash, with Arsene Wenger’s side heading into the tie having lost four consecutive games for the first time since 2002.

The Gunners’ 2-1 defeat to Brighton at the weekend, their fourth in five league games, has ignited an already bubbling cauldron of rage towards Wenger, with 88% of the Arsenal Supporters Trust (AST) indicating earlier this week that they want Wenger to leave at the end of the season.

AC Milan, on a 12-game unbeaten run dating back to December and having won their last five on the bounce, are arguably some of the least desirable opposition for Arsenal to face in attempting to end their barren streak, especially under the lights at a raucous, sold-out San Siro.

Follow all the action below with our live blog:

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Match preview

It’s a big game for

Arsene Wenger: If there has ever been a game in Arsene Wenger’s 21 years that is a ‘must win’, then Thursday night comes as close as you’ll get. Whilst a victory at the San Siro would be unlikely to detract from the calls for Wenger’s departure, it is the only competition Arsenal retain a chance of winning in the current campaign, and this Europa League clash is certainly the biggest game Wenger has encountered in recent memory.

Best stat:

The Gunners have lost their last three European trips to Italy (excluding qualifiers), failing to score in defeats to Roma (0-1), Milan (0-4) and Napoli (0-2).

Remember when…

AC Milan’s 4-0 victory over Arsenal in 2012 was a memorable night at the San Siro, relive the game here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS9ATtKhpng

Player to watch…

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: Arsenal’s £60m Gabonese forward has taken time to adapt to English football since transferring from Borussia Dortmund in January, though with two goals under his belt as well as scoring in his last outing vs Brighton, Aubameyang could hold the goal-scoring key to allow Arsenal to flourish against AC Milan on Thursday night.

Past three-meetings…

Arsenal 3 AC Milan 0, Champions League – March 2012

AC Milan 4 Arsenal 0, Champions League – February 2012

AC Milan 0 Arsenal 2, Champions League – March 2008

Form guide…

AC Milan: DWWWWW

Arsenal: LWLLLL

Odds…

AC Milan to win: 23/20

Arsenal to win: 5/2

Draw: 47/20

Key Points

AC Milan: Donnarumma; Calabria, Bonucci, Romagnoli, Rodriguez; Kessie, Biglia, Bonaventura; Suso, Cutrone, Çalhanoğlu.

[8 March 2018 17:56 · Jack Watson]

Five minute warning

As the above title suggests, kick off is not far away. You can follow minute-by-minute updates with the occasional witty banter right here.

[8 March 2018 18:02 · Jack Watson]

1: Minute silence observed and we're off. AC Milan get us underway in the first leg of the last 16 of the Europa League.

[8 March 2018 18:06 · Jack Watson]

3: AC Milan are quickest out the blocks and have already won two corners. The latest is worked short then delivered towards Bonaventura at the back post who has the ball taken off him and turned away for corner number three.

[8 March 2018 18:09 · Jack Watson]

5: Sead Kolasinac receives the ball after a one-two with Henrikh Mkhitaryan on the edge of the area and advances into the box. A space opens up to pull a pass back but he fluffs his lines and scuffs the ball. 

Meanwhile Callum Chambers is getting treatment on the pitch. He back on his feet and fit to carry on.

[8 March 2018 18:11 · Jack Watson]

8: Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are starting to get on the ball more as Arsenal are beginning to settle at the San Siro. The duo are dropping deep to begin attacks.

Ozil plays the ball to Jack Wilshere who drives at the middle of the defence. Instead of shooting from the edge of the area, Wilshere lays the ball to his right and finds Mkhitaryan who shoots low into the side netting.

[8 March 2018 18:13 · Jack Watson]

10: Sead Kolasinac and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are giving Calabria plenty to think about on Milan's left side. The duo are both getting in behind the defence but are yet to provide Danny Welbeck a delivery he can attack.

[8 March 2018 18:16 · Jack Watson]

12: David Ospina rushes out to meet Calhanoglu who is through on goal. The goalkeeper appears to catch him on the right side of the box as the forward touches the ball out of play. Calhanoglu stayed on his feet despite the apparent contact, if he goes down you feel he gets a penalty. 

In other exciting developments, I've dropped my biscuit in my tea as I've written this. Fuming. 

[8 March 2018 18:17 · Jack Watson]

Henrikh Mkhitaryan

AC Milan 0-1 Arsenal

15: Mesut Ozil plays a wonderful pass to Henrikh Mkhitaryan on the left channel. He cuts inside onto his right foot and fires into the far right corner from inside the box to score his first goal for Arsenal. And what a big goal it might turn out to be.

[8 March 2018 18:22 · Jack Watson]

[8 March 2018 18:24 · Jack Watson]

20: The goal had been coming and Arsenal have looked good on their left-side. Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Sead Kolasinac have been combining well and AC Milan have struggled to stop that.