AC Milan’s side is in fact the oldest on average, at 30-years old, out of the top 500 clubs in the best 33 leagues of Europe (the Premier League’s oldest average team is Stoke at 29.08-years old): however, the eleven Massimiliano Allegri sent out to do battle with Arsenal, which included 34-year old Mark Van Bommel, 35-year old Clarence Seedorf, although he only last 12-minutes, and 34-year old Christian Abbiati, was one with countless trophies between it, numerous successful internationals and bundles of experience. It was a case of age versus amateurs, but most importantly, a team with a winning mentality versus a team without a title in seven-years.
It’s not how much – It’s what you do with it
This is nothing to do with Kevin Price Boateng’s rampant sex-life, which often hinders his playing time and apparently is part of the reason why he’s often laying down at work too – on the treatment table – according to his model girlfriend Melissa Satta; it is the hard fact that, whilst Arsenal left the field of play having had possession 57% of the time (I purposely avoided the use of the word “enjoy”), AC Milan were the most productive with it, scoring with their first four shots on target.
During the group stages of the Champions League, despite being the first English team to qualify for the last sixteen, Arsenal had the second least amount of shots at 56: only Greek side Apoel Nicosia, coincidentally the second oldest side in Europe, had fewer with 36. It’s no surprise that both sides were completely out-attacked last night then: whilst Arsenal lost 4-0, recording only half the attempts at goal that AC Milan did, Apoel had only one shot all game, compared to Lyon’s 16 – the same amount of shots that Arsenal’s victors had.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic can cut it against English opposition
He was voted the best player in Italy recently by his fellow professionals: however, there was still some doubt, now eradicated, over his ability to deliver against English opposition. He once nearly ended up playing his football in England, for Southampton F.C., before his move to Juventus: yet, it wasn’t to be and playing time for Ajax, Juventus, Inter, Barcelona and A.C. Milan was yet to convince the harshest of critics that the big Swede could make an impact against English sides.
However, Wednesday night, constantly proving troublesome for Arsenal’s back four, Ibrahimovic assisted the second and scored the last, in an impressive display that saw the towering ponytail donning striker become the first since Arsenal’s Marouane Chamakh to score in five consecutive Champions League games. His assist saw him exert a quick burst of pace past his man, rolling his foot over the ball as he burst into the box, before poking in a cross for ex-Manchester City Brazilian Robinho to nod in from close range. His goal, celebrated Balotelli-esque, was a well struck penalty to the ‘keepers’ right, which Wojciech Szczesny, or Sir Chesney if you are Clive Tyldesley, was a well-earned cap to a stellar performance.
Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit
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Arsenal never learned anything from their mistakes in the last few years. So why will be any different this time? What have they learned from conceding goals from set pieces, or not holding on to a lead and so on.