AC Milan 4-0 Arsenal, now that was a result that sent the shivers down the backs and through the bones of many a gooner, but since then Arsenal have a produced a couple of cracking results.
Being 2 down at home after 30 minutes against their loathed rivals from N?? And then scoring 5 without reply, then on Saturday they found their selves under a barrage of Liverpool pressure, a missed penalty and still they came away with a win courtesy of that man RVP.
Why do I write this it's because last night I was lucky enough to be given a spare season ticket for the game at the Emirates where Arsenal were aiming to turn that 4 goal deficit on it's head and progress to the quarter finals of the Champions League.
This was my 8th visit to the Emirates but the 1st time I have seen a Champions League game there and what a game it was! A goal up after just 7 minutes when Koscielny rose unchallenged in the box and there was no looking back. Further strikes from Tomas Rosicky and a RVP penalty took the gunners into the break 3 goals to the good and the stadium was rocking as the players left the field for their well earned break, well Milan didn't actually deserve a break they had been merely passengers during the first 45.
A spirited fight back by Milan saw them start the 2nd half as a revitalised outfit and the set about slowing the game down and trying to stop the constant Arsenal pressure they had suffered in the 1st period. Saying that though, after a break, twist and shot by Gervinho was spilled by the ageing Abbiati RVP had the simple looking task of firing the ball into the net yet he simply knocked it into Abbiati's hands & the chance to go 4 up had passed. More Arsenal pressured ensured but they just couldn't muster a clear cut chance on goal. Milan toiled away and the irrepressible Zlatan Ibrahimovic continued to do what he'd done since the 1st whistle which was hold the ball up, get offside and then fall over at the whiff of the nearest Arsenal player, this of course was very frustrating for the gooner fans but it did the trick on the park, as Milan nearly pulled a goal back but for a great stop by Szczesny and then the clock ran down, 3 minutes were shown by the 4th official and all of a sudden the whistle was blown the game was over and after a spirited attempt Arsenal had exited from the Champions League.
From a neutrals view this was a great game and the Emirates is still one of the finest new stadia I have visited, it's always a pleasure coming here.
So off I went home with the hoards of proud gooners beaming at what their team had given them, unfortunately the task was just a little too big for them.
Til the next time
No comments:
Post a Comment