I will go ahead and say it first, I think Milan will qualify. I think this was the worst team we could meet.

We have a wonderful team and we should be proud of what they have done this year so far. I’ve said it before, our team is the team of the future. As long as we keep the core of the team (Fabregas, Hleb, Flamini, Adebayor, Van Persie, Sagna, Clichy, Senderos, Toure) for the next 2 or 3 years, we should be unstoppable! The average age for the 9 I mentioned is 24.1 years, so in 3 years, they will have enough maturity, experience, and time to gel and will be at their peak of 27 years. We should easily compete for the Champions League as well as every domestic competition with no problems! Until then, this is a ride that we should try to enjoy to the maximum. Any major trophy before then is a bonus.

Milan, on the other hand, have the perfect mix of experience and youth. I know they have had a mixed season at best in the Serie A, but people seem to miss a few facts.

1. Since November, they have lost only 1 game in 18 in the league and Champions League.
2. They have been in 3 of the last 5 Champions League finals and won 2. 03, 05, 07.
3. When they reached the final in 03, they finished 3rd in the league, in 05 they ended 2nd, and last year they were 4th. Liverpool won the Champions League when they were 5th in the league.
4. They added Pato in the January transfer window. The 19 year old scored 4 goals in 6 games since he first joined. He is fit for the game.

The point of the above is that many people seem to write them off for having a bad season domestically and because they are too old. Both things are not true. Domestic form is not related in any way to the Champions League form. In fact, I don’t remember teams winning both the CL and the league except for Porto, which isn’t a magnificent feat considering their league. As for age, they are experienced, not old.

In terms of injuries, Milan have Kaka back, Pato back, Seedorf might play, and Gattuso is back. Their only worry is their keeper, which I’m sure they can live with, and Ronaldo, who could have a career ending injury.

I am not too worried about their defence. Nesta, Maldini, Cafu, Oddo, Kaladze, and Favalli have an average of 34 years old. They are mostly great names, but they are beatable at this stage of their career.

Their midfield is the main killer. If they field Gattuso, Pirlo, Kaka, and Seedorf, then we are playing against the best and most balanced midfield line in the world if you ask me. Kaka is deservedly world player of the year, and he can kill any team with his counter attacks and long distance shooting, he is also the team’s top scorer. Pirlo makes free kicks seem as easy as penalties. He has a magic touch with his passing too. Gattuso is the type of player all defensive midfielders want to emulate, he is the the Italian older Flamini. Seedorf is very much underestimated, his movement off the ball and his short neat passes go unnoticed. They also have Emerson and Gourcuff, who has been linked to us recently.

Up front, Pato, Inzaghi, and Gilardino are always a threat. Inzaghi is the most annoying player in the world for defenders. He is not too quick, not too skilfull, not too pretty to watch, but is ALWAYS at the right place at the right time. He is the all time top scorer in UEFA’s history with 63 goals. Pato is one of the world’s most gifted youngsters, and Milan’s saviour according to most. The start of his career is showing that at 19, he is not intimidated at all and is showing glimpses of greatness already with 4 goals in 6. Gilardino is not bad, he scored 7 so far in the league, but I never saw him as an exceptional striker.

All in all, I think it will be a great game tactically, and Wenger needs to play his cards perfectly to beat out their experienced team. I’m not saying it can’t happen, I just don’t think it is as easy as many people seem to think!