Milan talisman Kaka does not consider Arsenal as pretenders to their European crown, but he admits he is prepared to suffer a first leg defeat at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

The World Footballer of the Year listed five teams who he thinks can win this year’s Champions League competition, and Arsenal were not one of them.

However, Milan arrive in North London with a goalkeeping crisis that will see 39-year-old Valerio Fiore start in goal, and Kaka admits he is prepared for a repeat of last season’s second-leg turnaround against Manchester United.

“The English teams are always tough and difficult,” he said in The Express.

“In terms of favourites to win it this year I’d say Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter and ourselves.

“It’s important to understand we can still do it even if we lose this first leg though – we can win the return match.

“We had to do that against United last season after we lost the first leg in Manchester.”

Kaka’s midfield colleague Clarence Seedorf has much more respect for Wednesday night’s opponents, admitting he was praying Milan would not draw Arsene Wenger’s men.

“Arsenal today is the worst possible rival we could face because they are developing a sensational team and in London they will be very hard to beat,” Seedorf was quoted as saying in The Daily Star.

“I am always optimistic, but against The Gunners we need to play the best match of our season to keep our chances alive.

“Arsenal are a very young team, but they work so hard.

“It seems strange that we are champions of Europe, yet we are not the favourites for this round.

“I sincerely believe they are one of the best teams in Europe at the moment and they play great football.”