afc AC Milan v Arsenal - Wenger names 18 man squad including Van Persie, but no Toure

[MrJibbles]

MILAN – These are the declarations of the Rossoneri at the end of Milan-Arsenal 0-2:ALBERTO GILARDINO:"Personally I had two very intensive days due to the birth of my daughter, Ginevra, two days full of emotions and I’m sorry for this evening because it would have been the perfect completion. From our part there were all the intentions to reach the next round. We were succeeding and in the second half we tried even more, then came Fabregas’ goal which stopped us completely. It arrived in the less opportune moment, when we were pushing with Kaka and Pato. This elimination surely does not cancel all that we have done in the Champions League, and now we shall re-start already from Sunday against Empoli, with twelve league games, just like we told each other in the dressing room, will be for us like twelve finals because we don’t want to miss this competition next year. There’s a lot of anger, disappointment. Galliani in the dressing room thanks us all especially for all that this group has done in 2007 and even he told us that fundamental games await us which we must prepare in the best way.”CLARENCE SEEDORF:“Tonight Milan gave everything, I saw my team-mates play very well and we also held the pitch. We were hoping to hit them towards the end just like they did to us. Surely this is a great disappointment, but now we must be good enough to recover the strengths for a final effort and finish in fourth place in the league. I did not see that they put us too much in difficulty. Milan started out strong and we were forced to face Arsenal in a moment in which we were not too brilliant. I wish them the best and let’s hope that they can win the competition. In the dressing room Galliani used encouragement words both for the team and the coach and we must be very objective because a defeat can happen and not for nothing Arsenal are first in their league. Milan gave everything, more than that we could not do. Now twelve very important games await us for the fourth place.”KAKHA KALADZE:“We have lost against a great team, Arsenal played a great game both here at San Siro and in London. They deserved to go through. Unfortunately you cannot always win, now we must work a lot. Adebayor has proven to be a great player who managed to hold the team ahead. They are placed well on the pitch. Milan must now think to arrive in fourth place, we have more days to rest and remain calm to prepare better the league games and find the right path for the fourth place. We had a marvellous 2007, we have won everything.”KAKA':“For me it was the first time that I exited the Champions League at San Siro. However these are important moments which help you to grow and I must also thank the fans who were close to use until the end. Arsenal deserved this qualification, they played very well and they were more dangerous than us. This team has a great experience and will surely find the strength to get back up and win the fourth place in the league.”ODDO:"My performance doesn’t mean much, even though it was good. We did not play like Milan. We are sorry for the fans and also for us. Arsenal were really good. Now we can understand the merits we had last year, when we were very good and also lucky. In this season we made a bit too many mistakes… and today we as well because we were eliminated. Now let’s think about the league, which we need to get back in Europe. The fans will be sorry and we as much as them, but I hope they remain close to us. It can happen to exit a competition, after many years of success, but there is surely the will to return. At Empoli it will not be easy, also because this defeat will be felt from the psychological level.”

[MrJibbles]

Mathieu Flamini claimed Paolo Maldini's shirt within seconds of the final whistle, his non-stop display of fetching and harrying rewarded with the gift of the last Milan jersey ever to bear the No3 in European competition. On a night when Arsenal made the most emphatic of statements concerning their spirit, their sophistication and their potential, the Frenchman probably thought it was the least of the trophies to be carried home to London.Emmanuel Adebayor and Theo Walcott had just finished what they started at the Emirates a fortnight ago, repeating that same slashing stoppage-time combination but this time making it count with a goal that demolished the last remnants of a glorious Milanese dynasty. By doubling the lead forged eight minutes earlier through Cesc Fábregas's audacious long-range shot, they ensured that there will be no ninth final for Maldini, no fifth winner's medal to crown a majestic career as il capitano heads into retirement that will come a month ahead of his 40th birthday.Instead Europe will watch to see if Arsenal, a team built on youth, can rise to the challenge of establishing themselves as the continent's new dominant power. Last night they showed a courage and persistence to match the skills and the sense of adventure so carefully nurtured by Arsène Wenger, building a 90-minute performance that was good enough to deny Milan a place in the last eight for the first time in seven years.With Fábregas and Alexander Hleb alongside him in midfeld, Flamini played a vital role in denying Milan's creative players the chance to express themselves. Invited to praise the outstanding quality of Fábregas's creative contribution, Wenger instead drew attention to the way the midfield trio had led a defensive effort that involved the whole team.On the balance of attacking play, Arsenal merited their triumph. They laid the foundations, however, by ensuring that Kaka and Andrea Pirlo were given a minimum of time and space. Fábregas began it with a strong tackle on the Brazilian in the sixth minute. Hleb virtually ended it by brusquely dispossessing Pirlo on the halfway line with six minutes of normal time remaining and then watching as Fábregas accepted his square pass before advancing and unleashing a 30-yard shot whose suddenness and accuracy defeated the dive of the 6ft 7in Zeljko Kalac, Milan's Australian goalkeeper.In between those two incidents there had been numerous occasions on which Milan's players were shaken out of their stride by early interventions, some of which brought cries of outrage from the fallen aristocrats. But a player as used to dishing it out as Gennaro Gattuso, Milan's own specialist in enforcement, could hardly complain when asked to accept his own medicine. As old Ringhio went down so dramatically that he and the crowd's whistles fooled Abou Diaby into putting the ball out of play on the hour, it looked like an admission that the home side were in trouble.They managed to shift the momentum back in their favour during the final quarter, but not enough to deter Arsenal's constant efforts to ensure that their fate would be in their own hands. Having paused to catch their breath, Wenger's men came back with a final assault that sealed a marvellously absorbing tie."Arsenal played with great courage," a generous - and probably doomed - Carlo Ancelotti said afterwards. "They've shown the quality to go all the way in the Champions League." Two years after Wenger led the club to their first, unsuccessful final against Barcelona in the Stade de France, his squad look far better equipped to face a challenge from any of the remaining candidates in the closing stages of the competition.When the eight pairings for the round of 16 came out of the hat, there was a gasp of general delight as Arsenal were drawn to meet the defending champions, inspired by the feeling that the explosive speed of Wenger's young squad might be the weapon to expose the ageing legs of Milan's distinguished veterans. It was not quite enough to make the difference at the Emirates, but over 180 minutes, or 190 including the time added on in both legs, Arsenal's freshness eventually told. As Walcott skinned Kakha Kaladze on the right before giving Alessandro Nesta no chance to intercept a deliciously precise square ball to Adebayor's feet at the far post, the lesson was driven home.Arsenal had begun the game with an assault that shook Milan and their supporters rigid. Riding their luck in the early exchanges, then visibly growing in assurance, they laid siege to the home team for minutes on end. Once or twice, after advancing with something less than their usual speed, they showed a shortage of cunning when confronted by a defence that had been given time to raise the drawbridge and lower the portcullis.Whenever they managed to stretch Milan, however, they looked capable of producing goals. And when the real chances materialised, their coolness and resilience ensured that they did not go to waste. Fábregas, the author of two wasted opportunities in the first half, more than made amends with the devastating blow that opened the way for Wenger's Arsenal to achieve the distinction of becoming the first English team to beat Milan, a team founded by Englishmen, at San Siro.http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/03/...ark_end_of.html

[Guest Lemons]

Wowzer.Neighbours must of thought I was being raped.I have no voice this morning.

[Lenny]

I told stat from the 1st leg how confident i was we would get the win. 0 - 0 at home was never a bad result

Neighbours must of thought I was being raped.

LMAO

[j-step]

Best game I've seen arsenal play all season tbhFlamini was sooooooooo on point last nightAs soon as they scored the 1st I said to my dad and brother "I bet theo gets involved and they score another"Quality game, the football was imense....I got faith in Arsenal now, were deffinatly making the final at least

[Doom]

Still cant get over the performance last night, being clapped off the pitch from the milan fans at full time - who would of thought!Fabregas is becoming a big match player for us, scored against united, liverpool, sevilla & now milan. Welcome return to form

[Doom]

Best game I've seen arsenal play all season tbhFlamini was sooooooooo on point last nightAs soon as they scored the 1st I said to my dad and brother "I bet theo gets involved and they score another"Quality game, the football was imense....I got faith in Arsenal now, were deffinatly making the final at least

steady on!just worried how much that performance has taken out of the team, worried about wigan away tbj

[Young Spray]

How did Flamini improve so much?I remember watching him a few years ago (before he played at LB) and thinking.. why is this guy at Arsenal..Then I watch his performance today... he made some superb interceptions and challenges

[Lenny]

Doom, sick picture in your sigeven Jens is haps

[TF S4DK]

SICK PICTURE!

[Doom]

anyone with good photoshop skills willing to do the honors?wheres tulse when you need him

[Lenny]

wheres tulse when you need him

Banned forever.

[Dizzle]

So proud of the lads, the night called for a big performance & that's exactly what we got.With this win, RVP's return, Walcott coming good, Ade scoring in the CL for the first time..... Im feeling good.Theirs gonna be a nice vibe around the club this week.

[Guest Mickey Kane]

wheres tulse when you need him

Banned forever.

It's a shame too...

[TF S4DK]

Cesc Fabregas is convinced Arsenal have the tools required to claim domestic and European glory this term.The Spanish midfielder proved Arsenal’s match-winner in Milan on Tuesday, as he netted the opening goal in the 2-0 win which ended the Italians’ proud home record against English opposition.Arsenal are now through to the quarter finals of the Champions League and with them also sitting at the top of the Premier League tree, Fabregas is dreaming of Double glory. "We do not have 25 internationals like Chelsea so we were never going to be able to challenge for all four trophies - but we are still in contention for the two which really matter," he insisted."We are top of The Premier League and through to the quarter finals of the Champions League after beating the holders at home, so why can't we win them both?"

[Badman]

wheres tulse when you need him

Banned forever.

shouldnt have done that

[Doom]

[Doom]

whats all this nonsense about english teams not being able to win at the san siro? Inter and now AC, milans fast becoming our second home

[Buc Nasty]

You know what this pic reminds me of.Them blurry figure there.

[Lenny]

wheres tulse when you need him

Banned forever.

shouldnt have done that

Wasnt me. Admin delt with it, plus he kept on spamming up the place

[Dizzle]

Milan's manager Ancelloti nicely summed it up for italian newspapers: "The (Arsenal) midfield hurt us, really hurt us. They controlled, kept Pirlo out the game. Fabregas and Flamini were absolute giants. Hleb was phenomenal. Arsenal were precise and effective, just as we knew they would be. We did our best, we played to our maximum."

[Doom]

You know what this pic reminds me of.Them blurry figure there.

lmao

[RaRe 1.]

Them pictures are imense.

[Turkish]

Just watched the whole game again all the way through and it has to go down as our best champs league win. We controlled everything throughout the game and Fab just added another club that he has controlled the game against.Real against Zidane.Juve against Vieira.Milan against Kaka, Gattuso and Pirlo.Fab is top 3 selected right about now. Ronaldo >>>>> Fab >>>>> Messi.

[Dizzle]

I would replace Messi's name with Robinho on current form.