Milan determined to avoid Arsenal repeat

AC Milan will be anxious not to repeat the mistakes that have led to their UEFA Champions League exits at the hands of Premier League opponents in recent years when they welcome Arsenal FC.

• The Italian giants bowed out to Arsenal's north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur FC 12 months ago, Manchester United FC having got the better of them the previous season. In 2007/08 it was Arsenal themselves who began a poor sequence for Milan against English sides when they triumphed at this stage, meaning the Italian club's last three campaigns have been ended in the last 16 by English opponents with a home defeat on each occasion.

Previous meetings
• The encounter four years ago, when Milan were the reigning champions, was the teams' first in the UEFA Champions League. The London leg ended goalless with Arsène Wenger's team progressing thanks to late goals from Cesc Fàbregas (84) and Emmanuel Adebayor (90+2) at San Siro.

• The teams in Milan on 4 March 2008 were:
Milan: Kalac, Maldini, Kaladze, Pato, Gattuso, Nesta, Pirlo, Kaká, Ambrosini, Oddo, Inzaghi (Gilardino 69).
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Senderos, Gallas, Clichy, Fàbregas, Diaby, Hleb (Gilberto 90), Flamini, Adebayor, Eboué (Walcott 71).

• It was the first time Milan had been beaten by English visitors. In 11 previous competitive contests Milan had won seven and drawn four, that sequence including a 2-0 win against Arsenal in the UEFA Super Cup in February 1995, lifting the trophy by the same aggregate score.

• Milan's recent struggles mean their record now shows seven wins in 12 two-legged ties against English opponents.

• Arsenal have won seven out of eight such contests, most recently a 3-1 aggregate defeat of Udinese Calcio in this season's play-off round. Theo Walcott scored the only goal of the home first leg and was also on target in the 2-1 away win after Robin van Persie had scored Arsenal's equaliser.

• The Gunners also beat Parma FC in the 1994 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final in Copenhagen.

• In four of Arsenal's last six visits to Italy they have come out on top. In 27 games against Italian clubs their record is: W13 D8 L6 (W5 D4 L4 away).

Match background
• Arsenal's 3-1 defeat at Olympiacos FC on matchday six – they were already assured of finishing as Group F winners – was their first of the campaign. Their other away games ended in a draw at Borussia Dortmund and a win at Olympique de Marseille.

• The Gunners have won three of their last 12 European games on the road including the play-off victory at Udinese.

• Massimiliano Allegri's Milan won their first two home games in Group H against FC Viktoria Plzeň and FC BATE Borisov but lost 3-2 against FC Barcelona on matchday five.

Team ties
• Zlatan Ibrahimović scored two second-half goals to give Barcelona a 2-0 lead at the Arsenal Stadium in the 2009/10 UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg. The Gunners levelled on the night but lost 4-1 in the return.

• During a two-year spell in England with Manchester City FC, Robinho scored in a 3-0 home victory against Arsenal in November 2008. He also faced the Gunners at this stage in the 2005/06 UEFA Champions League as Real Madrid CF bowed out, losing 1-0 at home and drawing 0-0 away.

• Thierry Henry struck a hat-trick in Arsenal's 5-1 win against FC Internazionale Milano at San Siro in the 2003/04 group stage. He also scored three times at AS Roma in 2002/03.

• Flavio Roma and Sébastien Squillaci played together at AS Monaco FC between 2002 and 2006.

• Van Persie, Mark van Bommel, Urby Emanuelson and Clarence Seedorf have played together with the Netherlands.

• Emanuelson and Thomas Vermaelen were team-mates at AFC Ajax between 2005 and 2009.

• Bacary Sagna played in the AJ Auxerre youth system when Philippe Mexès was in the first team.

• André Santos is part of the Brazilian national team alongside Thiago Silva, Pato and Robinho.

• Alberto Aquilani played in the Premier League with Liverpool FC in 2009/10 while Kevin-Prince Boateng had spells at Tottenham (2007/08) and Portsmouth FC (2009/10).