Champions Lge: Arsenal team news

Arsenal will be without German centre-half Per Mertesacker for tonight's Champions League last 16 first-leg clash at AC Milan because of the ankle injury he sustained in the Barclays Premier League victory at Sunderland.

Kieran Gibbs is fit again following a groin problem, and so could slot in at left-back allowing Thomas Vermaelen to move across into his favoured role alongside Laurent Koscielny, while Swiss international Johan Djourou is another option.

Striker Thierry Henry - who came off the bench to score a stoppage-time winner at the Stadium of Light - plays his last match before returning to New York Red Bulls.

Gervinho has finished international duty at the African Nations Cup, but the Ivory Coast forward, who missed a penalty in the final shoot-out defeat to Zambia - is not due back until later this week.

Defenders Carl Jenkinson (back) and Andre Santos (ankle) are still out, along with midfielders Abou Diaby (hamstring) and Jack Wilshere (ankle).

Arsenal provisional Squad: Szczesny, Gibbs, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Sagna, Song, Arteta, Ramsey, Rosicky, Walcott, van Persie, Fabianski, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arshavin, Henry, Coquelin, Benayoun, Park, Djourou.