It felt like a humiliation for Arsenal
It was almost a year ago to the day that Arsenal beat Barcelona at the Emirates Stadium, a result that Arsène Wenger rates among the finest of his career. This was one of the ugliest and it served as a shuddering check to the momentum that he felt his team had built over the previous four games. This was Arsenal's Mr Hyde side. Defensively abject, they were led a less-than-merry dance by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who also ended his hoodoo of failing to score for Italian clubs in Champions League knockout ties. Milan played very well, as they sought revenge for the last-16 miseries visited upon them in recent years by Premier League clubs, but it was hard to spare Arsenal from stinging criticism. Their passing lacked accuracy and tempo, while there were smears for many reputations. The fight for the right to re-enter next season's Champions League felt a little pointless after this.
Arsenal defensive reunion falls flat
Wenger was finally able to start his strongest back four (although the injured Brazil left-back André Santos may argue with this contention). Only in the season's first two fixtures had the manager been able to pick the quartet and there was cruelty, if not the sense of inevitability, that they lasted only 44 minutes together, Laurent Koscielny's enforced withdrawal with a knee injury creating yet more work for the club's medical staff. Wenger could rage at his defence, before and after Koscielny's withdrawal for the clumsy Johan Djourou; there was a ragged feel to them, a lack of tightness about their marking and positional play. Milan exposed their flimsy attempts to hold a line, with the excellent Ibrahimovic gliding away to create his team's second, and it was uncomfortable to witness the space that Milan repeatedly found in the final third. Thomas Vermaelen, in particular, will not want to remember the tie. He slipped on more than one occasion and was made to pay on Robinho's second goal.
The pitch did not fit the occasion
The state of the San Siro turf is not a new concern. Since the third tier of this imposing arena was added for Italia 90, affecting the light on the turf, re-lays have been the norm. But Arsenal privately wondered why one of them had to come on Monday morning, a little over 48 hours before one of the season's biggest games. Their fear that a Machiavellian hand was at work was reinforced by the fact that only the wings had been returfed, the areas where Arsenal like to attack at pace. Did it influence Wenger's decision to leave Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the bench? The manager had voiced his grievances on Tuesday night, describing the pitch as "worrying" and "terrible". That Uefa had to pass it as playable after the heavy rollers had departed at 9am on Tuesday told its own story. It was inevitable that the surface would cut up. It was a blot on the spectacle.
Adieu Thierry
Barring a third coming, this was Thierry Henry's farewell to the Arsenal shirt; Wenger was unable to secure the 10-day extension to the loan from the New York Red Bulls and the club legend heads back to the States on Thursday. This was not how Henry wanted to sign off from an encouraging spell, marked by important goals and charisma in the dressing-room. Never mind his limited impact as a half-time substitute here, the result would have cut him to the core. There was to be no fairytale. His Arsenal goals' tally stays at 229. But the question about the cover for Robin van Persie remains. Marouane Chamakh and Park Chu-young, Wenger's back-up centre-forwards, were fit but neither travelled to Milan. Although Gervinho, who is predominantly a winger, should be available for Saturday's FA Cup tie at Sunderland, after the Africa Cup of Nations, an injury to Van Persie does not bear thinking about.
Boateng's not bad for a Spurs reject
Kevin-Prince Boateng was not supposed to feature here. The attacking midfielder had been struggling with a series of muscular injuries which, according to his girlfriend, was a result of them having sex "seven to 10 times a week". It was fair to assume that he was on a promise after this game, following his sensational opening goal, which showcased beautiful technique and embellished a performance that radiated menace. Yes, Tottenham fans, this really is the same Kevin-Prince Boateng who flattered to deceive, to put it mildly, after his £5m transfer to White Hart Lane. The Ghana international featured in one of the game's urban myths during his time in the wilderness at Spurs; he was said to have played some seven-a-side football in Essex with mere civilians. The story goes that he was incredible. Arsenal are now fully acquainted with his threat.
Source: David Hytner, The Guardian on 15 Feb 12
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