Arsenal simply do not pass the Eye Test. A friend of mine asked me earlier today what I thought the result of today's Milan v Arsenal Champions League match would be, to which I prophetically stated, "Milan, in a blowout". Low and behold Arsenal were absolutely battered at the San Siro, and find themselves once again (essentially) knocked out of Europe before Spring. What I meant in this blog's opening clause was that if you didn't know anything about the players on show today, and simply compared the teams in a physical sense, logic would tell you that Milan would overpower Arsenal's spritely players. Zlatan and Boateng are physically imposing and brutish; Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey are almost waifish in comparison. Abbiati, Milan's criminally underrated keeper, is massive and commanding; Szczesny is tall but lanky, and young to boot. AC Milan took the field today looking to not only beat Arsenal, but to overwhelm and dominate them with pace and power. Their plan worked to such an extent that some Gunners looked vaguely relieved that they could escape to the dressing room once the final whistle blew...
I'm not ignorant of the fact that AC Milan's squad is composed of technically phenominal players as well; Nocerino's pass for the opening goal was exquisite, and one struggles to think of a player currently in the Arsenal side capable of such quality. Yet Arsene Wenger's aim to assemble a squad of young, crafty, technical players has resulted in the North London side losing the braun and toughness that they once had in the era of Viera, and Sol Campbell. Whereas they might be able to go to Blackburn and bang seven in via finesse and skill, when faced by a side whose physical prowess is miles beyond that of their own, Arsenal are left looking pathetically impotent, and corporeally frail.
It was men against boys today in Milan. Massimo Allegrini has put together a side that is technically astute, and visually daunting. I wouldn't bet against them to make a serious run at this year's Champions League title. For Arsenal, another summer of rebuilding looms overbearingly.
Side Note: I posed this to my brother today; that Zlatan Ibrahimovic would be unmatched as the greatest player in Serie A even if Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were to join the Swede in said league. I believe his combination of size, skill, creativity, and ability to create something out of absolutely nothing perfectly fits the slower, more defensive, more technically focused Italian league better than anyone else on earth.
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