Allegri: We'll be patient against Gunners

Posted Wednesday, February 15, 2012 by ESPN

AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri has vowed his team will not make the same mistakes as last season against Tottenham when Arsenal come to the San Siro.

The Rossoneri went out at this stage of the competition 12 months ago when a late Peter Crouch strike handed Spurs a 1-0 lead to defend back at White Hart Lane, which they did to progress with a goalless draw.

The Gunners - who recorded a famous 2-0 win on their last visit to Stadio Giuseppe Meazza against the then holders four seasons ago - come into the tie on the back of successive Barclays Premier League victories which have lifted them up into the top four again.

Allegri knows Wednesday's match up will be another stern test, but will have his Serie A leaders well prepared to combat Arsenal's flowing game.

"Technically we have to play well and know that there are certain errors [from last season against Tottenham] which ultimately should not be repeated," the AC Milan manager told a news conference.

"Last year we made one mistake late against Tottenham, tomorrow [Wednesday] we have great patience and careful, otherwise you complicate everything.

"In the second match against Tottenham, we deserved to win and go through."

Allegri warned his men against switching off again. He added: "We must make a lot of attention, especially in defence, but not just for this one game, it must be over 180 minutes.

"We need to have a game of great intensity, and we can't give them chances to counterattack because that is their strength.

"Arsenal are playing very well lately and are very dangerous in attack. And one of Arsenal's best qualities is their speed, especially if they have room enough.

"Robin van Persie and [Thierry] Henry are very dangerous players, so we have to be aware of them, but it is the team of Arsenal as a whole that is the most dangerous."

Former Arsenal captain Henry will return to New York Red Bulls on Thursday following the end of his loan spell at his old club.

After netting winning goals against both Leeds in the FA Cup then in stoppage-time to see off Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, the Frenchman has deepened his place in Gunners folklore.
Brazil defender Thiago Silva hailed Henry as "incomparable".

The 27-year-old said: "Everywhere he has gone, Henry has created history.

"We have to pay attention to Henry because every game he comes into he makes a difference.

"But if you talk only about one player, then tomorrow [Wednesday] it might be another one [that makes the difference], so we have to pay attention to everyone."

Much like the Gunners, Milan have been struggling with injuries lately.

Defenders Alessandro Nesta, Mario Yepes, Brazil forward Pato, one-time Tottenham midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng and former Arsenal utility man Mathieu Flamini have all now returned to training, but are unlikely to start tomorrow [Wednesday] after lengthy spells out.