Euro dream will survive in Milan - Wenger

Arsene Wenger is convinced Arsenal’s Champions League dream will not be washed away in rain-drenched Milan tonight.

Anything other than a victory against Inter will leave the Gunners with a mountain to climb to squeeze through Group B.

Wenger is confident Arsenal will claim that desperately-needed three-point haul – because his players have learned their lesson from September’s Highbury horror show against Inter.

The Italian giants were out of sight at half-time in north London, racing into a 3-0 lead and shutting up shop after the interval.

Wenger reacted by shelving the attack-minded approach seen in that game, replacing it with a more cautious gameplan.

“We don’t deny we made mistakes at Highbury,” he said.

“We gave cheap goals away – goals we don’t normally concede. We were in too much of a hurry to go forward.

“We didn’t score but probed too much and got caught. That won’t happen tonight. We must defend better but keep creating chances – then I’m sure we’ll score.”

Midfielder Ray Parlour added: “Inter scored with their first two chances at Highbury, so we hope to put it right tonight.

“We try to attack at home but will have to be more cautious and wait for chances.

“Italians have always been very good at defending – but we have winners in our team and know what we have to do.

“We won’t give anything away and then try to pick them off on the break.”

Milan has been deluged by rain for four days – and the uncovered San Siro pitch was sodden last night, with standing water in places.

But Inter were preparing to drain the pitch, already relaid twice this season, and are confident the game will go ahead.

“It’s like being in England,” Wenger quipped. “We want to play the game. They have good drainage here, and I think they have enough experience here to handle it.”

Arsenal beat Dynamo Kiev 1-0 at home three weeks ago, so another victory at Inter would go some way to solving the principal conundrum of Wenger’s Highbury reign.

That puzzle is of domestic strength but repeated under-achievement on the continent.

Wenger insists he will not use a lengthy injury list as an excuse should his side fail against Alberto Zaccheroni’s team, who are fourth in Serie A after three straight victories including Saturday’s 6-0 destruction of Reggina.

“It’s true we haven’t done it in the Champions League, and I have to accept that,” said Wenger.

“We’ve been in the UEFA Cup Final, but that is the second division of Europe. The Champions League is the top division, and we haven’t done it yet.

“We’ll have no excuses tonight. Everybody’s up for it, and if we get a great result we’re in with a chance of qualifying.

“If you want to be a big club you have to perform when it matters.

“Both teams will have to go for it, because it will be dangerous for Inter to leave their qualification open until the last game.

“They play a more adventurous 4-3-3 system under Zaccheroni – which means we will be under more pressure defensively but also have more chance to score.”

Arsenal’s list of injury-enforced absentees from the team-flight to Milan yesterday was: Sylvain Wiltord (groin), Dennis Bergkamp (hamstring), Patrick Vieira (thigh) and Lauren (knee).

Gilberto Silva was aboard but is extremely doubtful because of tiredness stemming from international duty in Brazil last week as well as a muscle niggle.

Martin Keown has recovered ahead of schedule from his calf injury.