Gunners hopeful Toure could make San Siro return

Toure was carried off with a calf injury during the 0-0 draw in the last 16 first leg at the Emirates on Wednesday, and manager Arsene Wenger initially expected him to be out for at least three weeks.

But Arsenal were more optimistic on Thursday and the defender hopes he could line up as the Gunners seek to become the first English team to win at AC Milan. The size of the task can be gauged by the fact that Arsenal were beaten 2-0 in Milan in 1995, while Manchester United went down 3-0 in last season's semi-final there. It will surely be Wenger's finest hour if Arsenal can pull off an improbable victory against the masters of European football.

Milan defended brilliantly at the Emirates, snuffing out the creative threat of Cesc Fabregas, Alexander Hleb and Emmanuel Adebayor and settling for a draw, which is, after all, the Italian way.

They will come out of their shell in the San Siro, where Kaka destroyed United in that second leg, scoring the opening goal and teasing Sir Alex Ferguson's men all night. Hleb said of Wednesday night: 'We were a little bit angry because we had a lot of chances. This Milan team will win a lot of trophies, but we played much better than them. The problem is that we didn't score. We can win in Milan and we have to be confident. Beating Milan is not impossible.'

They should be holding a narrow advantage, but Adebayor, who has not scored in the Champions League this season, sent a header against the bar in added time in the first leg. The Arsenal striker is gaining a reputation as a flat-track bully. His 19 Premier League goals have come against teams from outside the big four, but he remains their most likely match-winner.

He said: 'I had an amazing chance, but I put it on to the bar and that is what it can be like sometimes. The most important thing is to create chances and, hopefully, I will put one in at the San Siro.'

Milan have conceded just two goals in seven European Cup ties against English opposition in their own stadium, and Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf believes that experience will count in their favour.

He said: 'Arsenal played well, but we defended well. Our squad was not at 100 per cent, but we know we can do a lot more in the home game. 'Playing at home is another thing for us. We are pleased with the result.'