Outgunned

AC Milan 4

Arsenal 0

Humbled. Thrashed. Humiliated. This was a very poor night for Arsenal Football Club. The result, 4-0, was poor enough, but the manner of their defeat was the more worrying and peculiar thing on the night.

First and foremost AC Milan looked for the most part absolutely class. The way in which they got men behind the ball in the drilled fashion they did was imperious. Then, once they had suffocated the impotent Arsenal passing game, aided and abetted by the choppy long grass on view at the San Siro, they broke at break neck speed with real class in the form of Ibrahimovic, Boateng, Antonini and the delightful Robinho. He showed a lot of the class that made him such a coveted name in his early playing days but doubled it up with hard work and the chasing game that deserted him during his stay at Eastland’s. Zlatan was allowed to bully the abysmal Bacary Sagna and the uncharacteristically clumsy and slow witted Thomas Vermaelen. Koscielny had his moments but footballers have to stay fit and too many of the Arsenal players get injured far to regularly. Coincidence is becoming a tedious excuse. In comparison the two AC centre backs, Silva and Mexes exuded confidence and won most aerial battles and used the ball well when asked too. Even when Arsenal did fashion a chance they found the veteran custodian Abbiati in top form. This amazing performance was choreographed by the conductor in the middle of the park Mark Van Bommel who was in my eyes man of the match. He consistently found himself in acres of space to spread the ball around the pitch and with Nocerino doggedly winning the ball off the poor Rosicky, Arteta and Ramsey; MVB was given plenty of chances to control the tempo and pace of the game. He also marshalled the defence and midfield when Arsenal went on ‘the attack’ if you dare call it that.

Kevin Prince Boateng scored a magnificent goal to give AC the lead. A goal that matched the exquisite chipped pass from Nocerino and immediately Arsenal were gasping for air early on. Zlatan flirted with the offside trap throughout the game and when he got a lucky break his surprising speed for such a languid looking character caught Arsenal a quiver; his chip pass met daintily by the head of the accepting Robinho. The other goals were much the same. Zlatan and Robinho were treated with the respect of gangsters; fear was genuinely obvious in the actions and eyes of the sluggish Arsenal defenders and when their chances came they took them, Robinho ‘s low drive inch perfect and Zlatan tucking away a penalty after a clumsy foul by lacklustre substitute Djourou. Boys against men is the phrase that comes to mind.

For Arsenal it was yet another reminder that for all his undeniable genius Arsene Wenger has not yet replaced many of his former stars, not in the way AC Milan have. Mikel Arteta seemed out of his depth tonight. His passing was slow and laborious and Aaron Ramsey is of course a supreme talent but he needs time to develop, tonight was a huge learning curve. Rosicky is a shadow of the player who shone for the Czech Republic 4 or 5 years ago. Injuries may have taken their toll on this talent. As for Theo Walcott I doubt there is a more frustrating player in world football. He has all the raw ability to become a world class player yet he doesn’t seem to believe it. His passing was aimless, crossing hopeful and even his pace appeared leggy. His fear was in sharp contrast to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s offensive style when introduced. His talent is a beacon of light along with the return of Jack Wilshere in a month but experience is needed in this Arsenal team if they are ever to recover the glory years because at the moment Arsenal FC are a limping wounded animal and every time the wounds seem to be licked, another team of superior prowess seems to come along and give them yet another timely reminder of where they are in the footballing world. As for AC Milan they looked remarkably good and should now be considered potential contenders to win this trophy and add 2012 to their already illustrious European Cup collection.

On a final note we may have seen Thierry Henry in an Arsenal shirt for the last time tonight and even if he had little, or no impact on the game I will always be thankful for the goal he scored against Leeds United in his first game back. Football poetry in almost cinematic style yet for now the Band-Aids Henry offers over the wounds of the Gunners have been ripped off unceremoniously by the imperious Rossoneri and the damage will be almost impossible to fix in the second leg at the Emirates.