CL - Arsenal vs. AC Milan - Post Match [R]

[yossarian]

Continue post-match discussion here.

[ZIAD]

I wonder if Wenger offered them some Lasagna he cooked today??

[antifan]

Continue post-match discussion here.
I'm all talked out on this one. On to the next game...

[KevTheGooner]

I'm all talked out on this one. On to the next game...

Hey but I just got here!

Wow. What a game. I was exhausted afterwards...felt like I was there.

I've never been so pleased with a 0-0 draw before. What a strange feeling.

[4_Arsenal]

Didn't make it to the old thread. All I have to say is, Eboue WTF! Stick to what was working!

[Val1]

Major disappointment, this game. We had really above-average performances from Senderos and Eboue, Hleb and Flamini were great, Ade was able to find space most times he tried, and yet we hit the ball right at the keeper and Ade's first touch was pretty poor. Failing to capitalize in a game like this could come back to haunt us big time. I am way surprised at how many people think that we're likely to win or tie at Milan's home turf. I mean, from AC's perspective, they came here, took our best shots, lost Nesta and Pato in-game (we, of course, lost Toure), had really poor games from Kaka and Pirlo, and still came away with the tie. The formula for winning in Europe is not tie at home, win away (like a lot here seem to think), but hold on for a tie away, come home and win the second leg. While we can advance on a 1-1 tie, I think Milan's in the better position.

Can I say, after having seen Pato for only 65 minutes of his career, that I am already sick of him? Standing over the ball, literally handchecking the opponent as if he was playing hoops. I find him majorly annoying.

[HomeatHighbury]

This one's for you Kirby...........NEXT!!!!

[GPARsenal]

Some thoughts...

Of course, I would love to have seen a goal in the end for the sake of releasing all that tension...that feeling reminded me of the infamous Moscow match. Tons of chances, nothing goes in...

If Eboue finishes that ball Hleb played across the box early in the 2nd half, the flood gates open...we had a solid 4 or 5 attempts in the span of about 4 or 5 minutes. When we weren't threatening on goal, we were in Milan's defensive third possessing very well.

All that being said, I think going into the second leg nil-nil has an upside. We are an attacking team. We aren't a Milan, Liverpool, etc...where we thrive on simply soaking up pressure and preventing opponents from scoring. Sure, we've done relatively well defending in the league and did so two seasons past in the CL, but it's safe to say that's not our strong suit. Anyway, if we were 1-0 up after today, I think we'd see a conservative, possibly tentative start to the 2nd leg. In that situation, going a goal down early on could end up disastrous...we could lose momentum while they gain it, possibly let a 2nd slip, etc...I think that giving up your aggregate advantage can sometimes have a domino effect when your focus is simply on maintaining it...that also requires a sort of shift from a mentality of defense/containment to attacking.

On the other hand, given the 0-0 first leg result, I think we'll come out firing on all cyclinders. We are obviously going to want that first goal, and today's attacking illustrates the fact that we are more than capable of creating the better chances. I don't see us going 180 minutes without putting one in the back of the net (given attacking similar to today's).

Of course, it's more comfortable to be able to go into a tie 1-0 up with the thought process that giving up a goal means you are back to 'level' terms overall...BUT, if we do give up a goal in the 2nd leg, perhaps it's better to have it occur while we are generally attack-minded as opposed to being primarily focused on not conceding. And, it's come full circle.

Bottom line, I'm still full of confidence for the 2nd leg...Attacking is our best form of defence. Hopefully, we'll gain more momentum in the league and get RVP back in the mix come San Siro time. In any case, I'm not worried...

Edited: 2 more quick things...

-Milan has not exactly been solid gold at home. I understand CL is different than the league, but as far as home advantage goes there are other squads who I'd be more concerned about playing 'away' to this season.

-Also, in response to the people saying this is the result Milan wanted...I'm sure it is, but it's not as if they held us to a couple shots and otherwise shut us down. Our lack of goals was down to our finishing, not their defending.

[Silva 5]

I don't get it...Eboue was really good today, what does he have to do to get a little praise from you guys?

This hate is starting to become disgusting in my eyes.

[antifan]

I don't get it...Eboue was really good today, what does he have to do to get a little praise from you guys?

This hate is starting to become disgusting in my eyes.
He has to score... obviously. If he put in a couple of goals all the haters would be singing his name.

[antifan]

One last thing, how many people thought that it was Hleb with that bit of skill on the goal line? I did, until the replay showed it was Flamini (getting levelled immediately by a Milan player, Foul on Flamini, of course). I've got to say i didn't think he had that in him. He impresses me more every game.

[Gooner_for_Life]

I don't get it...Eboue was really good today, what does he have to do to get a little praise from you guys?

This hate is starting to become disgusting in my eyes.

He needs to score when provided the chance or at least put the ball on goal and make the keeper work.

As well he still has moments of complete s*itheadedness. He went looking for a penalty and while i dont think he deserved a yellow, there was very minimal contact, but i think he could have kept running. As well there was another moment where he wanted a foul for what he thought was a push in the back. He didnt receive the foul and got up and then made a sliding challenge from behind on the opposing player.

As for the game, super frustrating. That is all i can pretty much say. The ball just didnt go into the back of the net for us today. Im really nervous about the return leg and it is a big task for us. I would really like to see us come out and pressure them from the very beginning. If we can get an away goal early in the game it will be hugely beneficial. If we cant, then the longer the game goes without a goal, the more Milan's confidence will grow. As for now though the boys need to recoup and get ready and refocused for Birmingham. Every game is crucial from here on out.

[KevTheGooner]

I don't get it...Eboue was really good today, what does he have to do to get a little praise from you guys?

This hate is starting to become disgusting in my eyes.

I'm no hater. I though he was superb going forward today. Shirked his responsibilities against some of their counters later on but fortunately those came to naught.

[Val1]

One last thing, how many people thought that it was Hleb with that bit of skill on the goal line? I did, until the replay showed it was Flamini (getting levelled immediately by a Milan player, Foul on Flamini, of course). I've got to say i didn't think he had that in him. He impresses me more every game.
Same here. Really a delightful turn. You know, Flamini is the closest thing we have to a total footballer. He can defend, he's a super DM, he runs all over the place (he's who Hargreaves wants to be, and who Fergie thought Hargreaves would be) and he has a real nose for goal. We haven't had DM play as solid as Flamini's since Petit. If Wenger is the one who negotiates contracts, he's got to make this happen and I think he's got to pay whatever wages Flamini wants.

[Kulspruta]

What's up with booing an injured player? That aside, it seemed like a pretty classy show, good sportsmanship and all, good to see all the players respected each other.

[ToBeAGooner]

What's up with booing an injured player? That aside, it seemed like a pretty classy show, good sportsmanship and all, good to see all the players respected each other.

If a player spends 70 minutes acting like a complete twat, they deserve to get booed.

Pato is a future world class supercnut going off of what I saw from him today.

[Kulspruta]

And why is he a twat? He apologized to Sagna after the little nudge, helped him getting up and all, didn't even complain about the yellow card even though many people thought it was too harsh, he went for the ball when most of you claim he was cliping Sagna's legs (even the referee didn't give a foul). It was a physical game, are you guys gonna crucify the kid because of handchecking? Should I slam Adebayor for wrestling then? For Christ's sake, I even had to read some of you bringing the calciopolli issue to the table, that when the game was such a good sportsmanship showing. I don't even think Eboue dived, as it seems like there was a little contact and he was off balance. However I don't think it should've been a penalty, it was just a casuality of the physical play.

You guys had the better game, now why don't you show a little respect for the opposition?

[Nemes1s]

If a player spends 70 minutes acting like a complete twat, they deserve to get booed.

Pato is a future world class supercnut going off of what I saw from him today.

Listen mate he is only a 18 year old. I can't say he is going to be as a mature and classy person as Maldini was when he made the first XI for Milan at 17 back in 86.

Congratulation on your draw today and see you again in 2 weeks. :D

[ToBeAGooner]

And why is he a twat? He apologized to Sagna after the little nudge, helped him getting up and all, didn't even complain about the yellow card even though many people thought it was too harsh, he went for the ball when most of you claim he was cliping Sagna's legs (even the referee didn't give a foul). It was a physical game, are you guys gonna crucify the kid because of handchecking? Should I slam Adebayor for wrestling then? For Christ's sake, I even had to read some of you bringing the calciopolli issue to the table, that when the game was such a good sportsmanship showing. I don't even think Eboue dived, as it seems like there was a little contact and he was off balance. However I don't think it should've been a penalty, it was just a casuality of the physical play.

You guys had the better game, now why don't you show a little respect for the opposition?

The yellow card was too harsh? Pushing a player from behind into his goalie isnt worth a yellow? I cant even read the rest of the shite after that.

[MJ-inBRITAIN]

If a player spends 70 minutes acting like a complete twat, they deserve to get booed.

Pato is a future world class supercnut going off of what I saw from him today.

I disagree.

Anyway I thought the class up front in Kaka and Pato and in their back line gave us a look at where we'd like to get to. And our midfield probably left them longing.

We simply don't have that Kaka threat anymore - missing you tonight Tierry!