Arsenal vs AC Milan, 2011-12 UEFA Champions League, Round of 16

· 2nd Leg - AC Milan win 4-3 on aggregate

Arsenal

7': Laurent Koscielny
26': Tomas Rosicky
43': Robin van Persie (P)

FT
3 - 0
2nd Leg - AC Milan win 4-3 on aggregate

AC Milan

About

Arsenal are hosting AC Milan at Emirates Stadium, London, England, starting on . The match is a part of the UEFA Champions League.

Match Commentary

0': Join us for commentary from what could be the greatest comeback in history (or a crushing defeat) as Arsenal need to beat AC Milan by five goals to advance to the quarter-finals.
0':
Wenger says he may start four strikers.
0': We've heard him use the word 'belief' before and that is what Wenger thinks is key to his side's unlikely success
0': Some early teams for you. Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Gibbs, Song, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, Gervinho, Van Persie.
0': Milan: Abbiati: Abate, Mexes, T. Silva, Mesbah; Emanuelson, V. Bommel, Noverino; El Shaarawy; Robinho; Ibrahimovic
0': So, Arsenal fans, the good news first: The Gunners are unbeaten in their last 12 Champions League home games, winning 10 of them.
0': And: In seven two-legged ties and one final (excluding the Super Cup), no Italian side has ever eliminated Arsenal in a knockout competition.
0': Milan will also have some bad memories of 2004 when they beat Deportivo 4-1 in the first leg, but lost the second leg 4-0 - the only side to have been knocked out with a three-goal lead.
0': But it is a big ask. Milan have Zlatan Ibrahimovic in fine form and he has found the net in all of his five Champions League appearances this season.
0': Also, no side in Champions League history have ever come back from four goals down. The last side who managed to do so in Europe was Real Madrid in 1985 against Borussia Monchengladbach.
0': Milan are not exactly short of attacking ideas with Robinho and Zlatan around. They will surely sit and then look to counter knowing how vulnerable the Gunners are to a quick break.
0': Song and Rosicky in the middle are likely to have a busy night ahead, and if Wenger's side don't come out strong then it could be all over quickly if Milan score.
0': If any Milan fans think their side will be complacent, think again as Massimiliano Allegri says otherwise
0': Kieran Gibbs, who has struggled with injury this season, thinks that 'pride' is the reason that Arsenal will have fire in their bellies
0': With Walcott, Gervinho and Oxlade-Chamberlain all on the pitch at the same time, someone is going to have to play in the middle. Arsene Wenger says pre-match that it will be 'The Ox'.
0': "We will just go for it," says Arsene. After the dismal first-leg showing they have little choice.
0': If you wish to tweet me any comments, then drop me a link at @joncarterespn
0': One thing should be noticed - Arsenal have no midfielders on the bench so an injury to Rosicky or Song would scupper things completely. Park and Chamakh are the only 'gamechangers' should it all go wrong early on.
0': Milan, meanwhile, have former Liverpool midfielder Aquilani on the bench alongside two goalkeepers and three defenders.
0': So, the players are in the tunnel. Milan looking pretty relaxed and Wenger patrolling the hallways trying to get his players going.
0': Reader Sam says: "Even the great RVP can't make up this deficit, can he?" Well, we're about to find out, but my gut feeling is not.
0': The handshakes have taken place. Hope nobody gets a cold after that. Kick-off is closing...
1': KICK-OFF: RVP has been doing the rounds, now he trots to take the kick-off and here we go...
1': Arsenal have possession and have not lost it yet. Everyone has taken a touch.
2': Abbiati with a poor kick, but nobody could take advantage of it. Arsenal back in possession. They really need an early goal... or two.
2': Rosicky loses it and Robinho is away. Zlatan holds it up but tries to be clever and gives it away himself.
3': RVP is drifting around and he threads it to Rosicky, who feeds Walcott. He's just offside.
4': Walcott picks it up and works well with Sagna. Plenty of possession for the Gunners, but not quite working in the final third.
5': Robinho in the box, turns and gets the ball across, but Sagna comes across to clear. It's chipped in to Zlatan and Szczesny comes to claim.
5': Van Bommel in the book already for a crude hack on Rosicky.
6': Oxlade swings in a corner, but Zlatan is there to head away at the near post.
7': GOAL Koscielny is open from a corner and heads home!
7': What a start. Great delivery from Oxlade and Koscielny gets away from his man to head (shoudler) into the corner.
7': 1-0 to the Gunners. Great start. Is it on?
8': Robinho tries to respond quickly, but it flies wide of the post.
9': The ball is flicked through to Zlatan, but he is caught offside. That was a close shave though.
9': Nocerino on the edge of the box tries to feed Zlatan, but a good interception from Song. He was there to break it up
10': Walcott gets away down the right and feeds RVP who hits it from a tight angle. Good save from Abbiati. Oxlade hammers the rebound well wide from a long way out.
11': That was a comfortable save really, but a good chance as Walcott found space.
11': Oxlade runs from deep but that's a well timed tackle from Mexes to halt him in his stride.
12': Emanuelson slips the ball through, but none of the Milan strikers were on the same page and it rolls easily through to Szczesny.
13': Sagna is booked for a tackle on Van Bommel.
14': Rosicky runs and puts a great ball to Walcott in the box. Thiago comes across and keeps him away from the shot.
15': El Shaarawy tricks Gibbs and the defender hacks his legs away. Arsenal man in the book now.
16': Robinho swings it in but Gibbs is there to head clear. The Brazilian should really have done better from that angle.
16': Emanuelson gives the ball away and RVP and Rosicky are away. RVP makes the wrong decision though and puts his pass behind his team-mate. He could have tried to get a shot off, but that was a waste.
17': Van Persie goes in on Abbiati and the ref blows for a foul. He seemed entitled to go for that, but the ref is whistle-happy today.
17': Rosicky goes in on Van Bommel, but was there a card? I don't think so, although it may have deserved one.
19': Van Persie takes it and controls. He just sets himself and bends the ball into the corner. But Abbiati flies across and turns it behind.
19': A good save, and another good chance for the Arsenal captain. They are sensing blood here.
20': Robinho is finding space down the Milan right, but Szczesny comes out and grabs the ball well.
21': Wenger wants a touch... he looks like he's keen to act as ballboy and manager tonight.
21': Milan are struggling a bit with the balls up front. Zlatan isn't a focal point and they are hitting aimless efforts up there with no-one to get on the end of it.
22': Gervinho finds Gibbs in space, but that is a terrible cross and goes behind for a goal-kick.
22':
Laurent Koscielny heads home Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's seventh-minute corner.
23': Arsenal comfortable on the ball again, but they need more than that. Another goal before half-time would get the crowd going.
24': The Gunners are keeping the ball well, but that suits Milan quite well as they are still three goals up.
24': Song gets away down the right, but Emanuelson comes back and gets a foot in. No foul either, although he looked to get the leg as well.
25': Offside again for Milan, the assistant on that side is having a busy first half.
26': GOAL Rosicky. Walcott runs and the ball finds Rosicky who buries it in the bottom corner.
26': Thiago with a horrible error. He should have cleared Walcott's cross, but he gave it right to Rosicky.
26': A good low finish. And now the Arsenal fans are signing. Arsenal believe this could happen!
27': Another offside as both El Shaarawy and Zlatan are caught out. That has been a good effort from the backline so far.
28': The boos ring out as Milan have a bit of possession. Huge cheers every time Arsenal get the ball back.
29': Song looks like he might be carrying an injury. That could be a real worry as there is hardly anyone to fill the void.
29': Poor from Sagna as his header isn't far enough. Robinho runs at the defence and is cut out when he tries a trick or two.
30': Song steals it and RVP has a one-on-one with Thiago. The Brazilian gets a foot in to clear the danger.
31': Rosicky tries to be clever and push the ball into the gap. But Walcott wasn't reading it and it goes through to Abbiati.
32': Rosicky is away again and his pass is misplaced. He's having a good game in the centre so far.
33': RVP turns and Van Bommel sticks out a leg. The attacker loses the ball, but could have had a foul if he had chosen to go down.
33': Abate stings the chest of Szczesny as he has a shot from wide on the right. Easy save for the Pole.
34': Arsenal are in control of the ball and they are hoping to catch out the Milan defence with the odd through ball.
35': Walcott does well to track back and get in front of Mesbah.
36': Milan are stepping up the gears a bit and trying to get a move going.
37': The ball is out to RVP on the left, and he swings it in low. But he was probably needed to be on the end of it as well and Thiago gets it clear.
37': RVP fouls Abate in the box, otherwise Walcott had a good chance to get into a good position.
38': RVP lines up a free-kick at least 40 yards out. The defenders are up for it.
38': Terrible and low. Zlatan sticks out a leg and it's cleared with ease.
39': Koscielny does well when faced with Robinho on the break. The Brazilian not looking as quick as he once was.
40': Mesbah crunches into Walcott but he got the ball. The winger is hurt and needing treatment.
41': Mesbah slips and RVP could have been in, but again he makes the wrong move and tries to cut inside where the bodies have come back to mop up.
42': Since the goal, both sides have just been sloppy. The quality has disappeared. They must concentrate until the whistle though.
42':
Tomas Rosicky slots home Arsenal's second goal. Two down, two to go.
43': PENALTY. Oxlade-Chamberlain gets away and Mesbah brings him down.
43': RVP steps up...
43': He's had to replace the ball on the spot..
43': GOAL And scores! Great penalty into the top corner.
44': It really is on now. That was a super penalty and Oxlade was the architect with a wonderful run.
44': Looks like, in the replays, that the ref behind the goal gave that penalty. So the experiment does work after all.
45': Milan pushing, but they need half-time to come now. Arsenal don't want to hear that whistle.
45': What a chance for Milan... El Shaarawy is away on the right. Gibbs was out of position and Szczesny comes out. The shot goes wide.
46': That really would have been a sucker punch. Great goalkeeping ensured that the winger was rushed into taking his shot.
46': HT. ARSENAL 3-0 MILAN. Staggering 45 minutes and Arsenal just need one more goal to force extra-time. It's been an incredible half, but there is another 45 to come and the Gunners still have to keep a clean sheet.
0': By the way: The last time that AC Milan were 3-0 down at HT in a Champions League game was in the famous defeat v Deportivo de La Coruna in April 2004.
0': Ruud Gullit: "Milan are playing like spoiled kids." Indicadive of the second goal, he says.
0': Arsenal have been wonderful, but the job is not done yet. Milan will be shaking, but remember that one goal from the Italian and the Gunners need SIX!
0': Don't forget that Chelsea are in action tonight as well, drawing 0-0 with Birmingham in the FA Cup at HT. Join Chris Murphy for chat and updates.
0': And if you are wondering why Andre Villas-Boas isn't in charge of Chelsea then you should probably read this
0': Comment from reader Evan: "Arsenal smell blood, and look to get 5 or 6 today. El Shaawary might have missed the sucker punch for Milan before the half."
0':
Robin van Persie kept his cool from the penalty spot. Three down, one to go.
46': KICK-OFF. Milan get us underway again
46': Nocerino chips the ball over the top and Zlatan is there. But he's offside again. It's worked for the Arsenal defence so far.
46': RVP is now offside and Oxlade appears to be down. He might need attention on his knee. That would be a blow.
46': Chamakh is warming up. Will Arsenal need to make a tactical shift? Oxlade is coming back on...
48': He's moving a bit gingerly, but should be ok to continue for now. Rosicky clashes with Van Bommel again and it's a free-kick for Milan.
49': Szczesny comes out and clears. He's quick off his line and that could have be a dangerous moment.
50': The ball flies over Sagna and El Shaarawy misses his chance to get a header on goal.
50': Sagna crosses and Walcott takes it well. He gets away from Thiago and tries to stand a cross up, but it floats over the bar.
51': Thiago clears as the ball almost finds Walcott through the middle. It had got a lucky bounce, but was a close call.
52': Mesbah fouls Walcott and he's had a poor night.
52': Rosicky is hustled out of it and Mesbah gets forward. Zlatan dropping deeper to try and conjure something up.
53': Walcott gets it on the edge of the box and cuts inside into traffic. His ball to Gervinho is cut out and he really should have shot.
53': Szczesny comes out at the feet of Zlatan as Sagna is caught out of position. That was very quick thinking from the goalkeeper.
54': A few dangerous moments for the Gunners. The job is not done yet.
54': Walcott does well to get away from Mesbah. He drives inside and Thiago keeps him away from goal. Just one touch too many and he should have got it across quicker.
55': RVP corner is claimed by Abbiati with ease.
56': Milan are finding more space, and looking dangerous on the break.
56': Rosicky with a terrible ball across the pitch. Shows just what a difficult skill that is.
56': Song booked for taking the ball off the foot of Zlatan.
57': Sloppy play to give it away in the first place. Oxlade is limping again and Wenger needs to make a decision quickly.
57': Emanuelson has a free-kick and hits it well over the bar. Not impressive.
58': RVP chasing down Abbiati but he's hardly had a touch this half. Arsenal need to get him more involved.
59': Rosicky gets Gervinho away and his shot is deflected. Abbiati makes the save, but RVP is there. He tries to dink it over the keeper when he should have buried it.
59': Oh that was a huge chance. Why did RVP not smash it? He tried a Messi-style dink and Abbiati just plucked it out of the air.
60': RVP tried to be far too clever and Arsenal could come to regret that. Milan have had the better of this half so far.
61': Gibbs hammers the ball up to RVP who turns and fails to find the sprinting Walcott. Heads have gone down a little after that chance.
62': Mesbah takes it and shoots from a way out. Szczesny catches with ease.
63': Szczesny messes up royally. A poor pass to his CB and Zlatan steals in. He shoots while the keeper is out of his goal and it whistles just past the post.
63': That was a close shave. He holds his hands up in apology.
64': Oxlade takes on his man and cuts inside. His shot flies just wide.
64': Arsenal pressing up the field and Milan have given the ball away. Good pressure from the Gunners and they need to keep up this intensity.
65': Oxlade chips it over the top, but Walcott is offside and the assistant has been so busy tonight.
66': Vermaelen screams at Zlatan for an artistic fall. The ref blows for the foul though.
67': Sagna's cross is a good one and Abbiati has to come and punch it away from the head of his own defender.
67': Song and Rosicky play some nice passes on the edge of the box but it's all a bit too much and Mexes shepherds it behind.
68': Emanuelson on a run that takes him past about three Arsenal players. But he just runs out of room and Vermaelen is able to clear.
69': Poor again from Arsenal and they have sloppy. Giving the ball away El Shaarawy breaks and Szczesny saves well.
70': El Shaarawy off, Aquilani on.
70': Another body in midfield and Milan looking to shore things up a bit. They have controlled the midfield in this second half.
70': Zlatan is caught offside for what must be the 102nd time tonight.
70': Sagna wins the header and Walcott is away. His cross is too near to Abbiati who punches clear again.
70': Mexes and Vermaelen clash. The Arsenal man was on the run and Mexes got himself in the way. No foul, but both players are winded.
72': Bit of a delay and Wenger is telling Rosicky what he expects to happen.
72': Rosicky and Song are on the egde of the box again and pass to Walcott. Once again, he cuts inside and is robbed of the ball.
73': Zlatan with a shocking touch in the box. Some great work from Oxlade to get back, and he may be subbed before long.
74': Well defended by Koscielny, but he is blown up for easing Robinho off the ball.
75': Oxlade off and Chamakh comes on.
75': The striker would be an instant hero if he picked up the fourth goal. He needs the confidence boost.
76': Rosicky looking lively, but Chamakh wasn't on the same wavelength and didn't make the run for him.
76': Szczesny does well as Zlatan cuts inside and hits a shot across goal. The keeper palms it away from danger.
77': What a miss! Nocerino could have buried the game as Aquilani put a ball across and he found Szczesny when it seemed he would score.
77': He went with his right foot instead of the left and Szczesny gathered gratefully. That could have ended the game right there.
78': Milan with a lot more possession now and they are looking more comfortable. The crowd have dropped off and Arsenal are struggling a bit.
79': Arsenal just being overrun in midfield. Song looks tired.
80': Gervinho tries to run at his man, but Mexes stands up and holds his ground. The winger could not get past him.
80': Walcott turns and runs with it, but loses the ball and Milan break. Eventually Zlatan holds it up, but Koscielny does very well to stop him in the box.
81': It's gone very quiet at the Emirates. Someone needs to get the game by the scruff of the neck.
82': Gibbs is held up well by Abate and Milan are breaking again. Zlatan gives it away and the Gunners get away. Walcott, however, is down and looks like coming off.
83': Walcott off, Park Chu-Young comes on.
84': Three strikers on the pitch for the Gunners now. Park could be the hero?
84': Zlatan falls over outside the box and Arsenal complain. No matter, the foul is given and it's a chance for Milan.
85': Szczesny is lining up his wall... Every one of Arsenal's players is back. Zlatan hits the ball off the wall and it's a goal kick.
85': Nocerino is booked for protesting. And it came off Sagna by the way.
86': Zlatan is in the book as well for saying something.
86': The ref has not had a good game tonight. Arsenal fans may forgive him if their side gets one more goal.
87': The momentum has just disappeared in this half. Arsenal look flat and really need a lift.
88': Gervinho is isolated and Mesbah comes in with the tackle. Not quick enough ball movement there.
89': Arsenal pressing and trying to peg Milan as far back as they can.
89': Bonera comes on, Mesbah off.
90': Milan waste it, do Arsenal have one more chance left in them?
90': Three minutes remaining for Arsenal's European dream.
90': Emanuelson has the ball and passes to Nocerino who takes it into the corner.
91': Arsenal can't get hold of the ball and although they are chasing around, they don't look like getting it back.
92': Song robs Zlatan and Arsenal pour forward. He tried a long ball and it was cut out. The killer pass was not there and he should have kept it simple.
92': Free-kick and the last 30 seconds is upon us.
93': Sagna heads on to RVP in the box, but he is offside and that's it.
93': FULL-TIME: ARSENAL 3-0 MILAN. It was almost there, but not good enough. The Gunners could not score the goal they needed in the second half.
0': The first-half was full of hope and some incredible scenes. Arsenal were on the verge of turning everything around, but Milan shut up shop in the second and dropped the Gunners out.
0': If there was a moment that it turned, it was RVP's chance when he was six yards out and chipped the ball into Abbiati's hands.
0': But Arsenal can take heart. They were so close. Milan march on and quarter-final opponents will not be too fearful of the Serie A leaders.

Statistics

MIL		ARS
8	Fouls	21
4	Yellow Cards	3
0	Red Cards	0
9	Offsides	4
1	Corner Kicks	5
4	Saves	5
54.6	Possession	45.4
13	SHOTS	9
5	ON GOAL	7
0.4	On Target %	0.8
0	Penalty Goals	1
0	Penalty Kicks Taken	0
408	Accurate Passes	292
496	Passes	391
0.8	Pass Completion %	0.7
2	Accurate Crosses	1
16	Crosses	17
0.1	Cross %	0.1
52	Long Balls	37
32	Accurate Long Balls	23
0.6	Long Balls %	0.6
2	Blocked Shots	0
18	Effective Tackles	13
21	Tackles	20
0.9	Tackle %	0.7
0	Interceptions	0
12	Effective Clearances	9
24	Clearances	14

Game Information

Competition: UEFA Champions League

Venue: Emirates Stadium
Location: London, England
Attendance: 59,973

Line-Ups

Arsenal (4-3-3)

No.	Name
13	Wojciech Szczesny (GK)
5	Thomas Vermaelen
6	Laurent Koscielny
28	Kieran Gibbs
3	Bacary Sagna
17	Alex Song
7	Tomas Rosicky
15	Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
27	Gervinho
10	Robin van Persie
14	Theo Walcott

Arsenal Substitutes:

Park Chu-Young, Ignasi Miquel, Marouane Chamakh, Carl Jenkinson, Johan Djourou, Lukasz Fabianski, Oguzhan Özyakup.

AC Milan (4-3-3)

No.	Name
32	Christian Abbiati (GK)
33	Thiago Silva
5	Philippe Mexes
15	Djamel Mesbah
20	Ignazio Abate
4	Mark van Bommel
28	Urby Emanuelson
22	Antonio Nocerino
92	Stephan El Shaarawy
11	Zlatan Ibrahimovic
70	Robinho

AC Milan Substitutes:

Flavio Roma, Alberto Aquilani, Marco Amelia, Gianluca Zambrotta, Daniele Bonera, Mario Yepes, Simone Ganz.

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