AC Milan v. Arsenal 0-2 4/Mar/08

I really can not stand my joy due to today's match. The London side really made things possible, denied the early speculation about title ending and finally showed what they are made of. Certainly the team has grown confident with this win and of course, we can think of two major titles now. The away team showed a strong behavior, confidence and above all the wish to win. That is the difference between winners and losers. The ability to stand in what it was a tough match (the toughest of the season) and overcome major distractions is the main aim of this team, which is different from previous seasons. I made a 'bet' earlier in the season. I am certain, completely sure, that the team will win a title if not both. I know that the toughest battles are yet to come but this one was certainly against Arsenal's ghost, the phantom of despair since shaky times at the beginning of the season. I am very excited, by the new prospect of 'overcoming' teams. The Italian side appeared to be a difficult team, worth of championship, and although they fought relentlessly. They deserve all my respect for being such a professional side, thus contributing to the spectacle of our dear Football. Beating the current champions was not an easy task. Thus I am preparing my papers and appointments at US Embassy, I will travel to Russia even though Arsenal does not reach the final. My plan was that if the club reached the FA Cup final I could get my ticket to both the final in Wembley and in midweek going to Moscow to the other final, return for celebrations to London and get Mexico by Sunday. This plan was designed in the most positive ways and although I was sure about FA Cup final I think that the prospect of Russia is delighting. Do not listen to me if Arsenal gets eliminated. I am very positive about titles this season.
The game was overloaded by pre-match comments about different sources, mainly from analysts that proposed the Londoners strategy. The clash against Villa on Saturday, and the fact of Eduardo's injury were the main reasons the analysts viewed the London side crushed.
Formally in the game, the line up was a leitmotiv of previous seasons in European journey. Since the times of Dennis Bergkamp and Ian Wright through the "Unnamable", Arsene has a great tradition of putting five-men midfield on European clashes. It was disturbing to see one striker. The point was that the Arsenal was the team supposed to search the scoreline and apparently they would not want it. But display in the game was completely different. All the game was supposed to pass through the prodigious boots of playmaker Fabregas, while the control and distribution of the attack was entirely relied in Hleb. The also prodigious Mathieu Flamini had a stunning task: to stop Kaká creating spaces and Pato exploiting them. The game started the same way as the previous leg, but with the difference that the away side adapted almost immediately to the hostile pitch. Pirlo showed some approaches providing Kaká some walls, and a long pass to Pato, who immediately showed his previous related conditions, swaying between four defenders before loosing possession. Milan sieged Arsenal getting the 8', showing some flaws in the London defense. Mathieu Flamini task was very difficult , he was quite nervous in relation of marking. The siege continued for a few minutes wile the childish pressure of the Noth Londoners did not affect the overwhelming ministry Milan was performing. Both teams had approaches with Pato, "Pippo" Inzaghi and Diaby on the other hand. The offensive part of the Milan proved to be very dangerous in the first 20 minutes of the match. Eventually Kaká and Pato were too many to Mathieu who really "halved" himself to cover the two Brazilians. His game was as critical as Fábregas. In some occasions any of these Brazilians escaped the ferocious mark of the number 16, making some worry on the manager. Right in the middle of the first half, and throughout the game, the possession rose and swayed being a game of moments. Having Adebayor a clear chance at 27'. At that particular time the chants from our brave supporters that made the great travel were beginning to shadow the Italian ones. Then the shot of Cesc hit the woodwork, a warning of what he was later going to achieve. Mario Kempes pointed clearly the way Adebayor was playing against the four defenders when the offensive Londoners could not reach the conversion-reconversion. The game seemed partially equaled as the Villa on Saturday due to the changing environments in offensive. The game was reaching a critical point and was far than good.
In the opening of the second phase the pace did not diminished and the chances were equally created by both sides, although the Milan squad was a little vanished by the overwhelming attacking position from the sides, especially from Clichy's. Senderos had a perfect chance which was saved by Kalac, with a tremendous luck. The Arsenal FC "abused" possession, in cases putting the 11 away players in the final quarter of the pitch. Eboué created a very good chance at 50´. The turning of the game was already beginning, as the first fifteen minutes of overwhelming activity ended, the match slowed. The referee was nervous, conceding several tackles of both sides wrongly. This was evident on Gattusso's clash at 60'. At this time of the game Ceac and Flamini started to shine in a incomparable way. Cesc was already awarded by Fernando Palomo as the man of the match but the best was yet to come. Kaká began to fade as well as Pato, whose none physical presence vanished. Palomo also quoted about the fights at Arsenal: Adebayor-Bendtner and Lehmann-Almunia. The substitution of Eboué by Theo was a good move, which later turned out perfect. This is what makes me mad about this youngster; he can shine and play twenty minutes like a complete 'crack' or vanish between the lines and defenders. Arsenal at this stage showed a better football in all aspects. The Italians were already established in the 'catenaccio' when Pato chance at 19´passed.
Then the goal came. Few moments in his carer Cesc has played so well to deserve the appraisal of the whole team, stadium, press and fans. The goal was purely from the decision of winning. He wanted to win and that was the result of a terrificly executed shot, which summarized and epitomized his carer. His strike was perfect finding the opposite corner of the defending post by the keeper. His will was purely from his heart. A tremendous goal, he was eager to make. Cesc has evolved from the shy midfielder to the organizing behemoth monster, providing everything everytime.
At 93' young Theo after a cross evaded the defense and intelligently crossed the ball to get Adebayor's first goal in European competitions. It was a pure emotive ending. Both sides struggled and obviously the one that wanted to win won. A just match full of emotions and players. Maldini's "exit" from European football seems inevitable. I am not sure if Milan can get to qualifiers this season and obviously he will not retire since the people want to see him playing. He was one of the players who really fought the whole game.
Arsenal is facing each time toughest tests and inevitably will reach the point of struggling against the best of the best. I hope it is not United or Roma next stage but it is something for sure: this team is amongst the two main contenders and will fight to the end.