Song: Dutch Star Holds Key to Champions League Success
Alex Song has praised the contribution of Arsenal teammate Robin van Persie and believes the striker can keep the club's thin Champions League prospects alive against AC Milan on Tuesday night.
The Gunners trail Milan 4-0 after an embarrassing defeat in the San Siro two weeks ago, but Song remains adamant that if anyone can help them overturn the deficit it is their talismanic captain.
Song and van Persie combined once again on Saturday as Arsenal came from behind to beat Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield.
The Cameroon international, who has made seven assists in the Premier League this season, supplied van Persie with an exquisite lofted pass before the Dutchman fired home to secure victory for Arsenal.
"Everyone knows that Robin can make the difference in every single game he plays," he told the official Arsenal Web site.
"We're happy and lucky to have him in our squad. I work well with him in training and I know how he moves. When I have the chance I try to give him a good ball, and if I do that then I know he can score at any time."
Arsenal will need to pull off one of the most memorable comebacks of all time when they face Milan at the Emirates for the second leg of their last-16 Champions League tie.
But Song insists the club are more than capable of securing a result in this evening's clash in the wake of successive wins against Liverpool and Tottenham.
"Of course we can do it," he added. "In the last couple of games we've showed very good things and we'll take encouragement.
"We didn't play well in the first leg against Milan; we know that, so now we need to show another face. We're at home with our fans behind us and we'll try to put on a big game.
"I can promise that we're ready to fight - we have the quality, we have the opportunity and we'll do what we can. Milan is a big team but we'll battle hard and see where that takes us."
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