While Arsenal were very poor, I don't myself think that Man City, Man U, Tottenham or Chelsea would have fared much better at the San Siro last night. Milan were fantastic and if they can maintain that form I think they are well capable of dethroning Barcelona.
(1) Like many English fans, until last night I had never actually seen a performance from Ibrahimovic that would justify the superlatives frequently used to describe him. His record speaks for itself, but when I've seen him in the past, "lazy", "disinterested", "selfish" seemed the most appropriate adjectives. Last night he produced one of the most complete individual performances I can remember seeing (and at the risk of touching a few raw nerves, one that should lay to rest for ever the idea that, in the modern game, the No.9's place is central, in the penalty box -- cf Milan's second goal, created by Ibrahimovich taking possession on the left touchline).
(2) Arsenal never got going because, like City against Swansea, Milan pressed them high up the pitch. Instead of dropping off and defending deep in the familiar "continental" way, for three quarters of the game they denied Arsenal the freedom to build from the back into midfield, and kept the Arsenal back line pinned close to their own penalty area. On top of that, Milan instantly surrounded the player with the ball, cutting off the passing options. I have never seen Arsenal give away possession with such regularity. It was only in the last twenty minutes when Milan began to tire that Arsenal were able to put any passages of play together.
(3) Even when Milan were forced to defend deep, their discipline was impeccable. The BBC commentators were making the usual "three passes too many" criticism of Arsenal around the Milan penalty box. Truth is, Milan skilfully cut off the passing options forcing Arsenal to keep playing sideways passes. When Arsenal did get the ball into the box, from the occasional cross but mostly from corners, the Milan defence was rock solid. Van Persie was limited to two real strikes on goal, both late in the game.
(4) Wenger will no doubt get a lot of flack for not putting Oxlaid-Chamberlain on sooner. But the truth is that when he did come on, he was no more effective than Walcott had been; both were neutered by the disciplined Milan defence. Arsenal fans are in no mood to accept excuses, and Wenger to his credit didn't offer any. But the fact is that they went into this tie with a back line containing three players (Sagna, Vermaelen, Gibbs) only just returned from long term injury and well short of full match fitness, a midfield deprived of players of the quality of Fabregas, Nasri and Wilshere, and a front line missing the left-side probing of Gervinho. It's no surprise to me that they were trounced by a Milan side who got everything right on the night.
Robbie
(1) Like many English fans, until last night I had never actually seen a performance from Ibrahimovic that would justify the superlatives frequently used to describe him. His record speaks for itself, but when I've seen him in the past, "lazy", "disinterested", "selfish" seemed the most appropriate adjectives. Last night he produced one of the most complete individual performances I can remember seeing (and at the risk of touching a few raw nerves, one that should lay to rest for ever the idea that, in the modern game, the No.9's place is central, in the penalty box -- cf Milan's second goal, created by Ibrahimovich taking possession on the left touchline).
(2) Arsenal never got going because, like City against Swansea, Milan pressed them high up the pitch. Instead of dropping off and defending deep in the familiar "continental" way, for three quarters of the game they denied Arsenal the freedom to build from the back into midfield, and kept the Arsenal back line pinned close to their own penalty area. On top of that, Milan instantly surrounded the player with the ball, cutting off the passing options. I have never seen Arsenal give away possession with such regularity. It was only in the last twenty minutes when Milan began to tire that Arsenal were able to put any passages of play together.
(3) Even when Milan were forced to defend deep, their discipline was impeccable. The BBC commentators were making the usual "three passes too many" criticism of Arsenal around the Milan penalty box. Truth is, Milan skilfully cut off the passing options forcing Arsenal to keep playing sideways passes. When Arsenal did get the ball into the box, from the occasional cross but mostly from corners, the Milan defence was rock solid. Van Persie was limited to two real strikes on goal, both late in the game.
(4) Wenger will no doubt get a lot of flack for not putting Oxlaid-Chamberlain on sooner. But the truth is that when he did come on, he was no more effective than Walcott had been; both were neutered by the disciplined Milan defence. Arsenal fans are in no mood to accept excuses, and Wenger to his credit didn't offer any. But the fact is that they went into this tie with a back line containing three players (Sagna, Vermaelen, Gibbs) only just returned from long term injury and well short of full match fitness, a midfield deprived of players of the quality of Fabregas, Nasri and Wilshere, and a front line missing the left-side probing of Gervinho. It's no surprise to me that they were trounced by a Milan side who got everything right on the night.
Robbie
. The proof of the pudding will be in how things pan out in the latter stages.
