Arsenal's anger gives way to belief

Soccer/ Uefa Champions League: Alexander Hleb has revealed that Arsenal's initial reaction to their failure to puncture Milan's stubborn resistance on Wednesday evening was one of anger, but already determination has replaced regret as they took forward to next month's second leg.

"Everyone was angry in the dressingroom afterwards but we still have belief," said the Belarussian. "We can go there and score and progress."

The frustration was understandable. In stoppage-time Emmanuel Adebayor's header had clattered the Rossoneri's crossbar, after they had thrust forward with purpose in the second period only to lack composure and accuracy in the final third. Arsene Wenger put that down to a mixture of "nerves" and overeagerness to secure a lead. Such profligacy must be eradicated at San Siro.

Milan have never lost to English opposition at the Giuseppe Meazza and have conceded only six times in 12 games against visitors from these shores, albeit that five of the teams emerged with score draws, which would be enough for Arsenal to progress. The last goal scored by an English club against the seven-times European Cup winners at San Siro was Dominic Matteo's for Leeds in a Champions League group game eight years ago. Manchester United have lost without scoring on their past two visits.

Robin van Persie, a long-term absentee who has managed only three games since October because of a succession of injuries, will not be rushed back for the return but there is still confidence that Arsenal have the forwards to embarrass Milan.

"Scoring will be so difficult, but we can do it there," said Hleb, who is a doubt for tomorrow's visit to Birmingham City after hurting a foot. "To have created so many chances against Milan, a fantastic team, has given us a lot of confidence. And we believe in ourselves. Of course it is not impossible to win there."

Adebayor, who complained yesterday of a stiff neck and is also a doubt for the trip to St Andrew's, admitted he was perplexed as to how he had contrived to miss his team's best opportunity. "I can't even explain it," he said. "That is what football can be like. Sometimes everything is okay. Other times the ball doesn't want to go into the net."

Yet a goalless draw offers far more encouragement than a score draw because Arsenal will hope to hit Milan on the break and register an away goal. "We deserved more with the chances we created but, while it's a bit disappointing, it's not actually a bad result," said Cesc Fabregas. "We will be positive going there.

"They were the hardest team we could draw, especially so early in the competition, but we have seen that we can play well against a team like Milan. They are not a team on the way down - they still have a lot to say, especially in this competition, and they have so much experience. But if we can play well against them at home, why can't we play well against them away, too?

"We deserved more but we can definitely go there and do it. We are a positive side, we are young but, having seen what we have seen in the first game, we can cope with their players, with their experience, and we can create chances. If we can score a goal, they will need two, so I think we can have a lot of opportunities to go through."

Defensive solidity will also be vital in the return, with Wenger encouraged by his medical staff's revised assessment yesterday that Kolo Toure, who injured a calf after only seven minutes on Wednesday, will be out for nearer two weeks than a month. That leaves the defender potentially available for the second leg.

"The news is maybe a bit better," Wenger said. "For me on Wednesday night it looked like he would be out for two to four weeks. The way he was walking perhaps four - but today the medical staff said to me it would be closer to two than four."

But although Milan were impressed by Arsenal's approach this week, they too feel they are well placed to secure a quarter-final berth.

"They most probably deserved something more, looking at the chances they had, and we were lucky to get away with some good chances that they had," said Milan's midfielder Clarence Seedorf, a four-times winner of the competition.

"Let's face it, they came close. But we didn't have all our squad at 100 per cent. Three or four players weren't totally fit, including me, but we will be physically stronger for the second leg.

"Given that, we were pleased with the result, especially looking at how things went. I think we did the maximum we could. But we know we can do something more when we play in the home match."

• Guardian Service