Arsenal 0-0 AC Milan- 20/02/08 – (Champions League) 21 February, 2008

We really deserved a lot more than that 0-0 headline last night. I said in the preview that if we could keep a clean sheet it would give us a good chance in the 2nd leg. However it was the visitors that seemed more obsessed with defending. The barely broke into the last third of the pitch and even then, they weren’t great.

My evening started in the worst possible way. I thought I’d head down to the game early, soak up the atmosphere, look round the shop, have a pint, then go to the game. I was in good sprits sitting on my train, thinking about the game and slightly nervous. However, suddenly I thought, “SHIT! MY TICKET!” I had gone all the way to Wembley Park before I realised and I had to jump off the train and run to catch one going back the way I came. I couldn’t believe it, I never forget my ticket…one of the biggest games I’ve been to and I forget my fucking ticket. So I got the train all the way back, went home as quick as I could, got my ticket, back to the station and jumped straight on the first fast train into London. I was now a sack of nerves and completely stressed out.

In the end I made it to Arsenal Station about kick off time but there was hundreds of other people there too and the slow moving crowd was driving me insane. I ran right round to the opposite end of the ground where I was sitting and made it to my seat after about 8 minutes gone.

We started with the team I expected however it looked like Senderos had been preferred to Toure. I later found out that I’d missed an early injury to Kolo when Pato’s shot hit his leg and it twisted his knee forcing him off. After the game Wenger said it’s a calf problem, but whatever he is he said he’s going to be out for another crucial month. Luckily Senderos is in form at the moment but it’s a bit worrying if he or Gallas picked up an injury. Hleb was in the middle and Eduardo started on the wing but later in the game he was pushed up front.

There weren’t a lot of chances in the first half; I suppose both teams were being a little cautious. Even still, you’d have to say we were getting more of the ball and doing more with it. It took until the 36th minute for a proper shot on goal. Eboue cut in on the right and played it back for Flamini however his shot didn’t have a lot of pace on it and went straight into Kalac who had made himself fit for the game.

It finished at half time 0-0 still with everything to play for. Early into the second period Nesta was forced off injured and some bloke I’ve never heard of came on, I thought this might give us a chance to break Milan down.

We were definitely the most dangerous side of the two but we still weren’t really creating clear-cut chances. We were playing class football though; we were completely cancelling out the European Champions. I was interested to the Kaka play as I’d never seen him live before but he was anonymous. Senderos completely dominated him and made some great tackles against the World Player of the Year.

With about 20 minutes to go, players were tiring. The whole Milan side looked exhausted but there was one of two Arsenal players who looked a bit fatigued too. Clichy was ambling around for a little while but he soon picked himself up. Fabregas looks a bit knackered in the middle after all the work he’d done. Eduardo was replaced by Bendtner in the 73rd minute and it was from then on that we really should’ve scored.

Fabregas had a couple of shot but they both went straight at Milan’s 8ft ‘keeper. The best chance though came right at the end when Theo Walcott picked up the ball on the right. His pace and trickery was too much for the visitors and he cut inside and whipped in a cross to the far post to Adebayor. Theo put the ball right on his head and somehow Ade managed to hit the bar from just a couple of yards out. I’ve been watching the replays this morning and it’s making me cringe. How did he miss?

Anyway it ended 0-0 with it all to play for in the second leg. Birmingham in league up on Saturday which is arguably a much more important game. Thanks for reading.