Even the most highly-regarded teachers have their flaws, perhaps an excessive fondness for the bottle once the marking is done, or an episode in the past with a student that led to a family’s sudden departure from the area. And so with Professor Wenger. His towering intellect and quest for knowledge will continue to be discussed with wonder in 500 years’ time, yet he still has one crippling weakness: he builds teams with a habit of exploding without warning. Arsenal have already gone up in a fireball against both Tottenham and Manchester United this season, a fact that will not have been lost on AC Milan’s explosives experts. Wenger’s gigantic brain is certainly capable of out-thinking the cunning Italians, and Arsenal fans must be praying the occasion is another successful step in his glorious academic career - yet if all goes wrong, it won’t be the first time he’ll be forced to return to whatever French people use for drawing boards.

The statistics 

» Adebayor has found the net nine times in his last seven league games for the Gunners, however, he is yet to score in Europe this season.

» Their defeat at Manchester United on Saturday was just the third game all season in which they have failed to score. They have an average of 2.21 goals per home game in the league, and 3.75 in Europe.

» The last time Arsenal played an Italian side in Europe they thrashed Inter 5-1 at the San Siro (2003/04). However, the last time they faced Italian opposition at home they were convincingly beaten (5-1, Inter, 03/04).

For more statistics and to place your bets, click here.