Arsenal v AC Milan – 07/08 Champions League 2nd Round Preview
The Champions League will restart next week and one of the more tantalizing second round ties has got to be Italian giants AC Milan against English powerhouse Arsenal.
It is the kind of match up we like to see – the young dogs up against the old guard. Energy and youthful exuberance against experience and class.
Interestingly, Milan and Arsenal have only met once before and that was 14 years ago in the European Super Cup competition (now UEFA Super Cup). The match ended 2-0 on aggregate, in Milan’s favor.
However, what is more interesting is the fact that Maldini played in that match 14 years ago! This gives you an idea how old the Milan squad is. Of the eleven Milan first team regulars, only two are below 30 years of age – Kaka’ and Pirlo. On the other hand, the situation in Arsenal is entirely reversed. They have only two players 30 and above – Gallas and Almunia.
This underlies the tremendous age differences in the two teams and there are two schools of thought stemming from this. One is that Arsenal’s youth and exuberance will triumph over Milan. They are young and will be too quick and too fit for Milan to handle. The other school of thought, however, believes that Milan’s class and experience will see them through. Compared to the youngsters of Arsenal, this is a situation they have been through countless of times and they will know how to cope with the pressure.
The 1st leg of this match will be held at the Emirates Stadium on February 20th and the second leg will take place on March 4th at the San Siro. This means that Milan will have the luxury of playing the second game at home and therefore, it will not surprise me if they played the first leg safe and then go all guns blazing in the second. This advantage, albeit a slight one, could prove crucial.
Even so, as a Rossoneri, I feel that this match is too close to call. However, it must be noted that Milan’s match up with Arsenal, closely resembles that of last season’s semi-final match up with Manchester United. Then, many believed that the pace of Manchester duo Ronaldo and Rooney will be too much for the aging Milan defence to handle, but Milan prevailed in the end. And not only did they prevail, but in the process, also handed Manchester United one of their biggest and most complete defeats in recent times with a resounding 3-0 victory at the San Siro.
Will we see history repeat itself? We shall see.
The author Kenny maintains a personal blog called ‘The Meditation Chamber‘.
If you’re planning on heading to Milan for the second leg on 4 March, click here to help make your planning a lot easier.
Go back to the full 16-team 2007/2008 UEFA Champions League 2nd Round Preview on Soccerlens.
pato is also below 30 years age.
but i think milan are favorites to progress.milan r more exprienced than arsenal.
Good to hear that Ronaldo and Kaka are injured. Hope they stay like that for one more month. As for the fixture, I think Arsenal got the better deal as I’ve always felt that having the last game at home was risky, especially a team prone to lapses in concentration now and then, like Arsenal. We have the ability to score against Milan and can run their aging defense apart. Hope it happens……….
i think arsenal will win this game by 3-2 aggregate….
As an Arsenal fan I have to say, even though they were struggling when the draw was made, this was the last fixture I wanted. Although saying Milans Experience vs Arsenals energy is a bit simplistic, Milans midfield is far, far stronger than anything Arsenal have had to face in the premiership this season, and if anyones equipped to shut off out passing game its them. I think that if we dont get either a two goal margin or a one goal margin and a clean sheet from the emirates leg then we’ll get done in Milan.
Whatever the outcome were going top need a hell of a performance from adebayor!
Kaka and ronaldo is injured!AC milan is kaka.If arsenal win its because kaka is injured.Thats all
I really don’t give a shit if Kaka/Ronaldo/Pato is injured or not. We just have to win.
Yeah, we have to win at the Emirates……..
Being a Rosonneri, I believe that Arsenal are the ones under pressure. They have never won the CL. Its unfortunate that they have to face the top of the cream of Europe and the world. I pity them. They may be surprised that Bonerra may be lined up agains them in the defence. He is a young and gifted defender, so are Digao (Kaka’s younger brother) and Matteo. In the attack they may have to contend with Poloschi and the Super turbo charged Pato, the two being fed by Seedorf, Pirlo and of course, Kaka. Milan will simply employ the tireless Gattuso and Ambrossini to keep watch on Fabregas, Flamini and Hleb. If Arsenal try any mind games, they wouldn’t know what hit them. Arsenal have to prove that they are up to scratch. Remmember, in December Milan were languishing in mid table in Serie A. At the moment they are 5th and still climbing. Anceloti has been rotating the team to aviod fatigue and injuries, let’s see.
MDH is right. Milan’s midfield IS the best in Europe, and in the world. Even if Ambrosini, Seedorf and Gattuso over 30, they completely shut down Cristiano Ronaldo last season…
and let’s not talk about Kaka and Pirlo, carving the chances…and an Inzaghi or Pato waiting to pounce. Milan always have this mysticism about them when they play… like an aura, that even if they lose the first leg, they know they can whip their opponents in the return leg.
Milans midfield best is europe?? maybe when they were all 50 years younger? I agree gattuso took Ronaldo out of the game but sissoko took messi out of the Liverpool and Barca game does that make sissoko world class?
Kaka is great but he isnt shining because the rest of the milan team are on pentions
I like the comment that the last Milan played Arsenal it was forteen tyears ago, and Maldini was part of that Milan squad and therefore shows how Milan has aged. That is intriguing especially coming from a Liverpool fan. Sounds like the proverbial sour grapes, if you can’t reach them, they’re sour. Do you remember Athens 2007, where was Sissoko? I am sure forteen years ago there was no Nesta, Marek, Oddo, Serginho, Kaladze and Bonera in Milan’s defence. Neither was there Gattuso, Seedorf, Pirlo nor the legendary Kaka and the turbo charged duo of Pato and Poloschi. For your records, you may also note that among Milan’s regulars Gattuso, Kaladze, Pirlo, Kaka, Gilardino and lately Pato and Poloschi are all below 30. In fact the duo of Pato and Poloschi are teenagers. Those rebuking remarks about Milan becoming 50 years younger to make the best midfield in the world will everporate. Just ask Boca Juniors which midfield became the world’s club best.
kaka is injured or not,it doesnt matter.arsenal will win this game
It doesnt matter who starts isnt it all about the full sqaud these days?
I think it will be a very good match, but AC Milan have the edge. They have more expierience, and Arsenal youngsters will not be able to cope under pressure. There not consistent anough especially after seeing them getting Thrashed 4-0 against man utd. Unless arsenal get 3 goals at the emirates and a clean sheet, and an away goal ! Which will be extremely hard against ac milan away. They will lose deffinately!
i dont give a damn ill say 5-4 as an aggregate..arsenal will take it to the next round
If Kalac and Dida can’t play, Milan will have to start a 39 year old keeper, Fiori, who has not played a competitive game in 4 years. And has never played in the UCL.
Dida’s back froze up on the bench at Parma, and Kalac had a hand injury in training the next day.
as a fan of both red sides, i think it’s like nightmare to see theese teams meet so early. they play beautiful football with super killer passes. milan with experiences,and arsenal is better in speed.they both start the attacks from wingbacks.generally they are equal. strikers of both sides are the leading actors to bring their team to the next round,how do they do the finishing touch.
arsenal is my favourite and i think the gunner will shot them cheaters down all the way to HELL!!!
how can one even think think..tht milans squad is old..my dear…they are the defending champions..&they r the golden star when it comes..to UEFA..they are just going to trash arsenal…
Kaka` is not injured just Ronaldo!
ac milan will win by a lot since we are the best!
plus we are world champions!
arsenal-milan 3-0 !!!
comon gunnerz lets beat these old grandpas:P!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
does anybody know in which hotel AC stays?
David… I bloody wish I knew, there’s nowhere on the internet that tells you.
Forza Milan!
Well that really sucks!
Lots of wasted chances by Arsenal. Anyone think they can pull off another miracle at the San Siro? I have my doubts…
Yeah, lots of wasted chances. But lots of positives also. Starting from Eboue, what a performance, and that too after the catastrophic display at OT. Adebayor spoiled a sitter(but lets be honest, it was past the alloted time anyway). Big Phil has really matured. I wish Wenger would put a little more faith in 4-4-2 rather than a 4-5-1.
As for Milan, they were lucky to escape with a draw. Pato is a super talent but in terms of maturity he is worse than Walcott. Oddo, Kaladze and Maldini were terrific.
Can we win in Milan? Why not? Can we secure a draw? Certainly. Just hope that happens……………
fabulous match….it was such an amazing match from the start….even though both sides didnt interest the scorekeepeers,this was one of the games of the season…..
eboue was brilliant…..fabregas is the man of the match….his passing and tackling left milan reeling….was very sad with the scorelines but i have to admit that milan were up for it….they were never dominated…even when arsenal were hogging the ball…they parked the bus right in front of goal and never gave the gunners a REAL chance…even though we should have scored given so many half chances…
as for those unfortunate souls who were content with watchin manure vs lyon….i pity you…it was a battle royale at the emirates…,
san siro—-we just need a draw…things dont look that bleak….. or in other words-not easy (for sure)…..
i have started counting down the number of days left….hope we come out on top…
I don’t want this to go to penalties…i don’t want this to go to penalties…i don’t want this to go to penalties…
milan will definitely win this match!
Spiral – if it does, I’d back Lehmann over Almunia
maybe keep a sub handy till the end and bring Lehmann on then?
It’s easier than it sounds for Arsenal – United scored an away goal and now they have a bigger advantage than Milan do against Arsenal.
As long as the gunners score once, they’ll always have a shot at progress.
They’ll have to play keep-ball and tackle like crazy nutters at the San Siro though.
i have to admit that I wasn’t expected at a match without goals,I was so sure that milan will win at the emirates with arsenal I was sure that milan will trash them….but i’m still waiting for this at san siro,i hope that kaka will be the man of the match and will return with great performances at san siro on 4th martch,also i hope that inzaghi will play on san siro because he is a very good attacant,also pato hope that will show us that he is a magician and score his first goal in ucl…and RORZZZZZZA MILAN!CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD!
Yo Bryan that sounds so masculine. Your world beater team looked so worn out afer 60 minutes. They hardly ran forward and just parked their sweaty asses behind the centre line. The Milan manager and a team official is saying that they were fortunate to escape with a draw. I dont know what stuff you smoked or used(I thought LSD was illegal). You could lend me some though,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
A C Milan will beat Arsenal (2-0). Gennaro Ivan Gattuso to score the first goal and Kaka to score the second.
arsenal is rubish ofcourse A.C Milan will be winner as manchster U last year……………kaka 4 ever