Arsenal v. AC Milan 0-0 20/Feb/08

A goalless match settle the most interesting game in the Knock out stage of UCL, into an almost Arsenal victory against the northern Italy team this evening at the Grove. Arsenal, as in season 05/06, created chances but really did not put the ball back in the net against a shadowed Milan, that will have to come from behind in home, in two weeks time.
In, what appear to be a gigantic struggle for the Londoners seemed a pleasant but reluctant match. In the second half the Londoners took advantage and created at least ten obvious chances of goal, against a struggling away team, relying on its forward strength. I thought the North London side will nor recover for the weekend's clash against arch-rivals Man Utd at the FA Cup, but as Cesc Fábregas mentioned it: "Winners recover faster than losers". Not much anything to add really. The fears of pre-match were occupied by Pato and Kaká as well as the midfield apparatus by AC Milan. The line up were as expected on both teams. One parenthesis I have to make is the inclusion of Mexican TV in UCL matches. TV Azteca commentators seemed to know nothing about either English football or Arsenal FC (with the exception of Antonio Rosique who did his Masters degree at Liverpool). So I turned to the more allusive style of ESPN Latin American commentators such as Fernando Palomo and Mario "Matador" Kempes, highly experienced in every football aspect.
The game, stated with an initiative home side, trying to put both pace and game play functioning. It seemed that the change of Kolo Touré for Philippe Senderos, very early in the game was a major setback but the home side managed to suppress this, and the number 6 did enjoy a good match. My 'Pato' guess was that he will not hold physically on the strength of the Arsenal center back. He eventually did but with a price of diminishing his play. One thing is to face struggling Regina and Palermo center backs and the other facing top flight teams such as the one discussed. Regarding center back the one by AC Milan, lacked substance. There were throughout the game serious flaws in organizing and covering positions, this also of a lack of presence of Gattuso who was by instructions of Mr. Ancelotti, chasing Cesc Fábregas. The home side was totally focused, they played as a whole, not relying on personal appearances although some of them were undeniable, like Cesc, Flamini and Clichy. These three players were perfect, above all, Mathieu Flamini. He was relentlessly helping both the forward and defensive nest. He covered Kaká when available and helped liberate Cesc in what is a two man functioning. He was completely in charge for the different aspects of the midfield, he ruled completely, as the media speculated over the 'ferocious' Italian midfield. The London side created all the game chances from the sides and with counter strikes that lead to the previously mentioned Center back form. Mario "Matador" Kempes said, around the 24', the Italian side kept waiting. This untranscendental speech is highly remarkable, although he meant a cliché. The Arsenal entered in a few minutes in the Italian game, slow paced, and contemplative in a passive rhytm, that lead to nothing. The Gunners quickly realized through Hleb the great mistake and began to roll the ball. Arsenal showed good form, an improvement on Saturday's game. Clichy covered Pato and went forward, a pretty difficult thing. A pretty unusual, but totally true thing was the adventurous comment by Fernando Palomo on Paolo Maldini. The Milan eternal skipper made his debut on 1985; still existed the USSR. I was not born yet, and now I nearly reach the twenties, he has made a lifetime achievement.
Second half was a completely on Arsenal. The approaches made by Eboué, Cesc and Manu Adebayor were not nearly enough to score. The first 15' were an overwhelming attempt to make a goal. It was the right time to kill the game, to take the advantage and the upper hand to Italy in two weeks. Nearly 7 chances were created and defectuously finished. Maldini was very good at covering showing a class of attitude and experience. The two final substitutions by the London side were carefully elected, giving time to the youngsters Bendtner and Walcott. The latter proved to be very efficient cutting into the wing and creating a chance that could have ended in the back of the net.
Obviously everything will be decided in two weeks time. We will see how both teams cope with many absents now recovered and fully playing.
Today I have found a very interesting article in which is pictured the FLAW of many Board Directors and Executives. It is not, an Italian team struggling in mid table or a Mexican team. It is the home of the revolution of football: Ajax.My footballistical father has taken over the charge of Manager, in one of the wisest moves ever. I will see much more often Ajax playing in the Eredivise than I did (twice per month or so).