AC Milan hadn’t been beaten in Italy since before Christmas, but Arsenal despatched them in style by beating them comfortably in both legs of our Europa League tie. Now the Gunners are into the last eight and our next opponents are CSKA Moscow, so let’s look at just how difficult the tie is going to be….
CSKA are currently second in the Russian Premier League, 8 points behind Locomotiv Moscow, who were just destroyed 8-1 on aggregate by Atletico Madrid, so we probably need to beat CSKA convincingly if we are going to have confidence against the Spanish favourites for the Europa League. CSKA themselves won 3-2 over in Lyon to progress on away goals after losing the home leg 1-0, so they can fight when they want to. They came into the Europa after dropping out of the Champions League, losing both home and away to Man United in the process.
In the League they have won 5 of their last 6, and here is their recent record….
In fact since the winter break began in Russia before Xmas, CSKA have played 12 games and their only defeat was the Lyon home reversal, but they overcame that in France.
The only other problem Arsenal could face in Moscow (other than assassinations!) is the weather In April is not likely to higher than zero on a good day!
So who is worried about taking on the Russians?
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