SOUNDBITE (English): Arsene Wenger, Arsenal Manager:

(On how this season's Europa League is of 'a higher level than ever')

"You're right, I want to be in the Champions League and if you look at the teams who are in the Europa League this season it is very strong.  We play Milan to have a chance to qualify for the quarter-final.

You look who is in there – Milan, Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, you have Arsenal.  You have all the French teams, some good French teams, you have many good teams in there and this competition is maybe this season of a higher level than ever."

SOUNDBITE (English): Arsene Wenger, Arsenal Manager:

(On how it was important to end Arsenal's 'negative spiral' by winning in Milan)

"Consistency is a sign of quality and that is the most important quality for me. But sometimes when you have a negative spiral, you know, it's difficult to get out. That's why it was important for us to turn a corner, especially when you have big games in one week, three games in one week.  If you lose the first one and it's a massive game like we faced in the (League) Cup (final), you have more chances to lose the next one. So it was important to get out of that."

 SOUNDBITE (English): Arsene Wenger, Arsenal Manager:

(On wanting midfielder Jack Wilshere to sign a new contract with the club at the end of the season, despite him being linked with a move to Everton):

"Jack will be free at the end of the season. We will make a proposal to him. I want him to stay and to be linked with the club for the future. That is my desire and I hope he will do it."

SOUNDBITE (English): Arsene Wenger, Arsenal Manager:

(Dismissing retiring Arsenal captain Per Mertesacker's quotes to the German press that he never wants to play football again due to the massive stress involved)

"I think that will go very quickly.  Once you stop for a few months you are ready to play again. Of course he's had a very long career and Per - I think Aaron could witness that - puts pressure on him(self) in every single training (session).  He never plays one minute without being totally focused.  That demands a huge amount of effort, that's why he made a career he made as well."

SOUNDBITE (Italian): Gennaro Gattuso, AC Milan head coach:

(on chances of overturning 2-0 deficit from first leg)

"Well, we are ready, we were born ready. We know it's going to be difficult, but in football and any sport in general there's nothing better than giving your all and changing the course of history. We came here not just for fun, or for a little journey, and we know that it's going to be difficult. We play against a tough opponent that put us in a difficult place in the first half at the San Siro, not only technically but also physically. It looked like they were running twice as fast as us, and we knew that we were going to play against a side that's got great quality, but for me, my players, and my staff, no one underestimated the extent of this task. And tomorrow we'll try to have a different approach, and try something different."