Arsenal FC: 10 Reasons Why We Should Be Optimistic Against AC Milan

Given the nature of our defeat against the Serie A champions when we visited the San Siro, not many would back the Gunners to pose any formidable challenge on Tuesday night.

However, it's not a foregone conclusion. Arsenal are not out of the competition, not just yet at least.

Arsene Wenger has spoken about how he still believes that there could be a change in the fortunes of the Gunners despite enduring their worst result in the tournament away from home since he first took charge of the club over 15 years ago.

Wenger has spoken about not resting any key players for the clash as he believes we are still in the competition. He might sound wacky and delusional to many of you, but here are some reasons as to why he might yet have a reason for what he's saying.

So here goes!

1) Fantastic League Run!

On the back of some spectacular performances against the likes of Blackburn, Tottenham and Liverpool, Arsenal have managed to not only strengthen their hold on the fourth position, but also push towards the third position, which would ensure automatic Champions League qualification.

Automatic Champions League qualification, on the basis of our league performances over the past few years, should be considered a luxury of sorts. With just four points separating us from Tottenham Hotspur, we have every reason to feel optimistic that we can overturn that deficit.

This remarkable comeback made by the Gunners is surely a huge morale boost for the team. They have battled through constant injuries throughout the tournament and look to be getting stronger and stronger as each match passes by, something that we have lacked in the previous seasons.

2) Scoring Goals for Fun!

Something that we seemed to be lacking at the beginning of the season, other than points, of course, was our inability to find the back of the net on a consistent basis.

Our victories were few and far between. Even when we did manage to grab the three points, the margin of victory barely ever exceeded two goals. For a team known for its attacking instincts, it was obviously an unknown place to dwell. 

All of that has changed to an extent over the past few weeks, with five goals coming against both Blackburn Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur within the space of under half an hour.

So even if we do concede against AC Milan, don't switch off your television sets just then.

3) Pressing the Trigger of the Gun

Arsene Wenger is perilously short of players, as he mostly is, by this time of the season.

How this could possibly work to our advantage is that it might force the manager to play a more attack-minded team. There might be a case for the inclusion of Park and/or Chamakh, given the injuries dealt to Abou Diaby, Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey and Yossi Benayoun.

What Arsenal need out of the game against AC Milan are goals, and although playing a team with more than the one striker that we are accustomed to seeing in the shape of Robin van Persie might lead to a certain degree of imbalance, it's sure to create a larger goal threat, especially if the likes of Song and Rosicky are on their game.

4) Home Advantage

First of all, sorry for breaking the rhyming sequence that I seemed to be developing over the previous slides.

To get back to the topic at hand, I believe that the two teams are relatively evenly matched and the four-goal deficit is largely down to the inadequacy of the playing surface at the San Siro.

The Emirates will provide a different scenario altogether. The grass is cut to precision, the ground is watered the perfect amount and the crowd is closer in than at the San Siro.

Arsenal rely heavily on the pace of their forward players as well as their full backs. The poor playing surface at the San Siro didn't give us a good demonstration of that, but the Emirates will surely give everyone present a spectacle to behold.

5) Left Foot of Robin Van Persie

In contemporary football, there really is no one who is more adept at using his left foot than "Captain Vantastic."

He just seems to be in that phase of his career where everything he does turns out to work in his favor. He is well in front of everyone else in the goal count in the Premier League for this season, both in terms of quantity as well as quality.

What all the Arsenal faithful would be hoping for is a similar show from Van Persie. His goal-scoring ability at the moment is second to none, trailing not even Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

6) Energy of Chamberlain

Alex Chamberlain has found it a bit difficult to break into the first team on a regular basis, but whenever he has got a chance, he has impressed.

Tuesday night might see the teenager handed another opportunity to set the night on fire as injuries to many first-team regulars might be enough to ensure him a starting berth.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain seems to show a quality that is always interesting to see as a supporter. He has confidence in his abilities and is not shy to display them.

Call him naive, immature or whatever it is that you want to call the young lad, but when the opportunity presents itself, you know that he is always there ready to pounce on it.

7) Pace

One thing that everyone would accept is that the Arsenal team is much more mobile than their opponents.

The likes of Theo Walcott, Gervinho and Oxlade Chamberlain could all pose a great threat to the Milan goal. They will be looking to run at the defence and give a torrid time to the likes of Zambrotta, Abate and Co.

It's always tough to count on the likes of Walcott, but if he is anywhere near 100 percent, trust this match to provide plenty of oohs and aahs.

Also, with Gervinho slowly being re-blended into the fold, a display full off pacy- and spiral-runs can be anticipated from him, as Arsenal will look to push forward through their wingers.

8) Excellent Form of Szczesny

The Polish shot-stopper has been in top form throughout this season. He is proving his credentials as one of the finest between the sticks in the Premier League. The entire Arsenal camp would be glad to finally find a keeper of such caliber after seeing the likes of Manuel Almunia and Fabianski squander point after point in the previous campaigns.

The game against Liverpool highlighted how far he has come since the first game he played. However, it was not a one-off, and Wojciech has always displayed maturity that seems to defy his tender age.

This season has made it even more evident why Arsene went against the notion of buying a new keeper and instead chose to stick to this young, sharp-tongued player who still can't beat Jack Wilshere at "FIFA 12'' after over 21 failed attempts!

9) Strong and Mighty Bosscielny

Laurent Koscielny has been a revelation this season. He is a sure starter whenever fit, and has added strength to his game, a component that was missing last season.

Although he sliced away the only goal Liverpool managed to score (if you'd call it that!) into the back of his own net, his entire performance through the course of the game was just another day in the office for the French International.

The words "Strong'' and "Mighty'' would generally not be associated with a player who represents a rather frail image and only just crosses the six-foot barrier, but such has been Koscielny's appeal and impact at the heart of the Arsenal defence that a name like "Bosscielny'' doesn't seem all that inappropriate.

10) Always Tough Not to Be Optimistic

From one Gooner to another (or many others in this case), have you noticed how you just can't help but continue believing in these guys, even if they lose 8-2 to Manchester United.

So there's no reason to stop now, right? 

Cheers for reading!