AC Milan made a giant leap towards a first UEFA Champions League quarter-final appearance since 2007 after completing an imperious four-goal victory against Arsenal FC.
A spectacular Kevin-Prince Boateng volley, strikes either side of the interval by Robinho and a late Zlatan Ibrahimović penalty condemned Arsène Wenger’s side to their heaviest ever European defeat. The Gunners require five goals when the sides reconvene in three weeks’ time in London if they are revive their remote prospects in this competition – even less likely on the evidence of this evening, they cannot afford to concede.
The build-up to the match was dominated by talk of the English hoodoo that has seen Milan eliminated at this stage by Premier League opposition for three UEFA Champions League campaigns running. Yet it was the Rossoneri who haunted Arsenal with a high-octane display of pressing, passing and lethal finishing.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side began as they meant to go on when Clarence Seedorf sent a fourth-minute shot fizzing wide. Though the Dutchman had to go off injured soon afterwards, the hosts maintained their momentum, almost taking the lead through his replacement, Urby Emanuelson, who mis-hit Ibrahimović’s lay-off from 12 metres out.
The Rossoneri were soon ahead as Boateng – returning from a month-long absence – controlled Antonio Nocerino’s pass with his chest before sending a venomous strike in off the bar from a tight angle. Arsenal, laborious in possession, lacked Milan’s drive and energy, epitomised by Boateng and Robinho. Not to mention the killer pass, provided time and again by Ibrahimović, including the moment he crossed for Robinho to head in after haring down the left flank.
Boateng broke through to crash a shot into the side netting, while Nocerino skimmed the bar with a ferocious strike. The Gunners were being swamped, and the sight of Laurent Koscielny limping off just before the break represented more bad news. The visitors’ other central defender, Thomas Vermaelen, was exposed for Milan’s third goal. The Belgian international slipped as Robinho, played in by the impressive Ibrahimović, turned him inside out before dispatching a low angled shot inside the helpless Wojciech Szczęsny’s right-hand post.
Wenger introduced Thierry Henry for his 376th and perhaps final appearance for Arsenal, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for only his ninth. The former almost created an unexpected away goal when he conjured a clever flick which set up Robin van Persie. The 28-year-old’s shot was on target, but Christian Abbiati pulled off an excellent save to deny the Dutch international.
Abbiati denied Van Persie twice more as the visitors threw caution to the wind – it was clearly not the Gunners’ night. Indeed worse was to follow for the visitors when Ibrahimović was upended by Johan Djourou 11 minutes from time. The Sweden striker converted the spot kick for his fifth UEFA Champions League goal of the campaign to cap a fine individual performance; it was not a bad team display either.
Arsenal FC have failed to score in their two home games against AC Milan and even a fine home record in Europe is unlikely to be enough to keep them in the UEFA Champions League.
• The Gunners were overwhelmed 4-0 at San Siro on 15 February, Robinho (2) adding to Kevin-Prince Boateng’s opener and Zlatan Ibrahimović sealing Arsenal’s heaviest European defeat with a late penalty.
• Arsenal will attempt to do what only three clubs have previously managed in UEFA competition – recover a four-goal first-leg deficit. Real Madrid CF lost 5-1 at VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach in the 1985/86 UEFA Cup third round, winning the return 4-0, while Leixões SC (against FC La Chaux-de-Fonds, 1961/62 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup first round) and FK Partizan (Queens Park Rangers FC, 1984/85 UEFA Cup second round) overturned 6-2 away losses with 5-0 and 4-0 home victories respectively.
• Milan themselves hold the record for the biggest first-leg victory overturned in the UEFA Champions League era, losing 4-0 at RC Deportivo La Coruña in the 2003/04 quarter-finals having won 4-1 at home.
• The Rossoneri have suffered recent UEFA Champions League last-16 defeats against Premier League opponents, losing to Tottenham Hotspur FC 12 months ago and Manchester United FC after being elimintated by Arsenal in 2007/08.
Previous meetings
• Four years ago, when Milan were defending champions, the London first leg ended goalless, Arsène Wenger’s team progressing with late goals from Cesc Fàbregas (84) and Emmanuel Adebayor (90+2) at San Siro.
• The teams in London on 20 February 2008 were:
Arsenal: Lehmann, Sagna, Gallas, Touré (Senderos 7), Clichy, Fàbregas, Hleb, Flamini, Eboué (Walcott 90), Eduardo (Bendtner 74), Adebayor.
Milan: Kalac, Oddo, Nesta (Jankulovski 50), Maldini, Kaladze, Gattuso, Seedorf (Emerson 86), Pirlo, Kaká, Ambrosini, Pato (Gilardino 77).
• The only other meeting between the teams came in the UEFA Super Cup in February 1995 when Milan won the home second leg 2-0 to take the trophy by the same aggregate score.
Match background
• At home in Group F Arsenal beat Olympiacos FC and Borussia Dortmund 2-1 while their meeting with Olympique de Marseille ended scoreless. Massimiliano Allegri’s Milan drew all three away games in Group H.
• The Gunners have suffered only one defeat in their last 42 home games, including qualifying rounds, in the competition – a 3-1 reverse by Manchester United in the 2008/09 semi-final – and are unbeaten in 13 home matches. The remaining games have yielded 31 victories and ten draws; the previous defeat came against Chelsea FC in the 2003/04 quarter-final second leg.
• Arsenal have prevailed only twice in ten UEFA competition ties after losing the away first leg, defeating HNK Hajduk Split (1978/79 UEFA Cup second round, 1-0 at home) and FC Porto at this stage of the 2009/10 UEFA Champions League (5-0 at home), both after 2-1 away losses.
• The 1995 Milan defeat was the only time Arsenal were bested by Italian opponents in eight knockout ties. In this season’s play-offs they beat Udinese Calcio 1-0 at home and 2-1 away; Theo Walcott scored in each game with Robin van Persie also on target in Italy.
• In 13 home games against Italian opponents Arsenal have won seven and lost two; the most recent reverse came against FC Internazionale Milano, who triumphed 3-0 in the 2003/04 group stage, the last time Arsenal succumbed at home to non-English opponents.
• When Milan won at Manchester United in this stage of the 2004/05 UEFA Champions League it was their first win in England after nine fruitless attempts. Their away record is now W1 D6 L8.
Team ties
• Ibrahimović scored twice to give Barcelona a 2-0 lead at Arsenal in the 2009/10 quarter-final first leg. The Gunners levelled on the night but lost the return 4-1.
• Robinho was on target in Manchester City FC’s 3-0 home victory over Arsenal in November 2008.
• Van Persie, Mark van Bommel, Urby Emanuelson and Clarence Seedorf have all played together with the Netherlands.
• Emanuelson and Thomas Vermaelen were team-mates at AFC Ajax between 2005 and 2009.
Arsenal FC have failed to score in their two home games against AC Milan and even a fine home record in Europe is unlikely to be enough to keep them in the UEFA Champions League.
• The Gunners were overwhelmed 4-0 at San Siro on 15 February, Robinho (2) adding to Kevin-Prince Boateng’s opener and Zlatan Ibrahimović sealing Arsenal’s heaviest European defeat with a late penalty.
• Arsenal will attempt to do what only three clubs have previously managed in UEFA competition – recover a four-goal first-leg deficit. Real Madrid CF lost 5-1 at VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach in the 1985/86 UEFA Cup third round, winning the return 4-0, while Leixões SC (against FC La Chaux-de-Fonds, 1961/62 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup first round) and FK Partizan (Queens Park Rangers FC, 1984/85 UEFA Cup second round) overturned 6-2 away losses with 5-0 and 4-0 home victories respectively.
• Milan themselves hold the record for the biggest first-leg victory overturned in the UEFA Champions League era, losing 4-0 at RC Deportivo La Coruña in the 2003/04 quarter-finals having won 4-1 at home.
• The Rossoneri have suffered recent UEFA Champions League last-16 defeats against Premier League opponents, losing to Tottenham Hotspur FC 12 months ago and Manchester United FC after being elimintated by Arsenal in 2007/08.
Previous meetings
• Four years ago, when Milan were defending champions, the London first leg ended goalless, Arsène Wenger’s team progressing with late goals from Cesc Fàbregas (84) and Emmanuel Adebayor (90+2) at San Siro.
• The teams in London on 20 February 2008 were:
Arsenal: Lehmann, Sagna, Gallas, Touré (Senderos 7), Clichy, Fàbregas, Hleb, Flamini, Eboué (Walcott 90), Eduardo (Bendtner 74), Adebayor.
Milan: Kalac, Oddo, Nesta (Jankulovski 50), Maldini, Kaladze, Gattuso, Seedorf (Emerson 86), Pirlo, Kaká, Ambrosini, Pato (Gilardino 77).
• The only other meeting between the teams came in the UEFA Super Cup in February 1995 when Milan won the home second leg 2-0 to take the trophy by the same aggregate score.
Match background
• At home in Group F Arsenal beat Olympiacos FC and Borussia Dortmund 2-1 while their meeting with Olympique de Marseille ended scoreless. Massimiliano Allegri’s Milan drew all three away games in Group H.
• The Gunners have suffered only one defeat in their last 42 home games, including qualifying rounds, in the competition – a 3-1 reverse by Manchester United in the 2008/09 semi-final – and are unbeaten in 13 home matches. The remaining games have yielded 31 victories and ten draws; the previous defeat came against Chelsea FC in the 2003/04 quarter-final second leg.
• Arsenal have prevailed only twice in ten UEFA competition ties after losing the away first leg, defeating HNK Hajduk Split (1978/79 UEFA Cup second round, 1-0 at home) and FC Porto at this stage of the 2009/10 UEFA Champions League (5-0 at home), both after 2-1 away losses.
• The 1995 Milan defeat was the only time Arsenal were bested by Italian opponents in eight knockout ties. In this season’s play-offs they beat Udinese Calcio 1-0 at home and 2-1 away; Theo Walcott scored in each game with Robin van Persie also on target in Italy.
• In 13 home games against Italian opponents Arsenal have won seven and lost two; the most recent reverse came against FC Internazionale Milano, who triumphed 3-0 in the 2003/04 group stage, the last time Arsenal succumbed at home to non-English opponents.
• When Milan won at Manchester United in this stage of the 2004/05 UEFA Champions League it was their first win in England after nine fruitless attempts. Their away record is now W1 D6 L8.
Team ties
• Ibrahimović scored twice to give Barcelona a 2-0 lead at Arsenal in the 2009/10 quarter-final first leg. The Gunners levelled on the night but lost the return 4-1.
• Robinho was on target in Manchester City FC’s 3-0 home victory over Arsenal in November 2008.
• Van Persie, Mark van Bommel, Urby Emanuelson and Clarence Seedorf have all played together with the Netherlands.
• Emanuelson and Thomas Vermaelen were team-mates at AFC Ajax between 2005 and 2009.
A few weeks ago, I wrote an article showing the new designs for the new FC Barcelona 2012-13 kit. The kits got mixed reviews and there was much speculation if the designs originally released by SPORT.es were legitimate.
Now there is more proof that those designs were the real thing. SPORT.es published a new photo today of the FC Barcelona kit for 2012-13. The images are spreading across the Internet and confirms the Barça kit having a blurred blaugrana design. The kit will have grana in the middle with the red fading to the blau.
The new image also displays the new Manchester United and Arsenal home kits as well.
Some of the new features of the Man U kit include an all-black collar and a small, black, red devil on the back of the kit. But the biggest change is the Scottish tartan design. Personally, I think it’s very stylish. Perhaps one of the reasons Nike and Manchester United decided to do a Scottish tartan design was to honor Sir Alex Ferguson and his 25 years of managing United.
United’s away kit is all blue with Scottish tartan design and an all-blue collar.
Arsenal’s new kit is very similar to the 2010-11 kit and a deeper red than this season’s kit. The exception is the grayish-black collar. The biggest change is the sleeves, where we see a three-striped look of red, white and black. Nike has been going with a striped-sleeve look for most of their 2012-13 kits, including the new Brazil national team kit.
Man Utd’s kits for 2012-13
The new kits will be available for purchase around July.
Xoel’s Commentary:
I still think the home Barcelona kit is not as bad as people are making it out to be. Yes, it kind of looks like Paris Saint-Germain’s traditional home kit, but I like the dominant blue look. I still prefer the orange road kits to the home kits the team will be bringing out next year.
Lionel Messi will be dominating opponents with any colored kit he wears, so it’s all good.
Arsenal’s kit is OK, but I’m not too excited about it. I’m not a big fan of the stripes on the sleeves. Regardless, Robin Van Persie will score plenty of goals at the Emirates wearing this kit—that is of course if he decides to come back to the Gunners.
Manchester United’s kits are the best of the three. The Scottish tartan look is an excellent choice. I think it’s stylish, but I’m sure all Man U haters will say it looks like a tablecloth. If it is in fact an honor of Sir Alex, they’ve done well. Regardless, I’ll have to get a Wayne Rooney kit just for collection purposes.
Visca el Barça!
Arsenal kit for 2012-13
Thanks for reading. Follow me on Twitter: @XoelCardenas
Don’t forget to check out my other columns:
FC Barcelona: Cold Offense, Worse Defense, Inconsistent Team
Commentary: Barcelona Is Not Obsessed With Jose Mourinho; We Have Pep Guardiola
FC Barcelona: Barça Fans’ Top 10 Chants at the Camp Nou
Liga Lost? 10 Questions Fans Need to Ask About Barcelona the Rest of the Season
Commentary: Leo Messi Is Not Big Enough For America?
Article source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1067317-nikes-new-fc-barcelona-arsenal-and-manchester-united-kits-for-2012-13
Not since a 19-year-old Niall Quinn scored against Liverpool FC in 1985 has an Arsenal FC player made such an impressive full league debut. Although he did not score in the home defeat by Manchester United FC last month, it is a measure of the impact Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had on Gunners fans – not to mention United defenders – that the decision to substitute the winger on his first Premier League start was roundly booed by the home faithful.
After Cesc Fàbregas, Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere, the 18-year-old Oxlade-Chamberlain is the latest in a line of young midfielders to emerge under Arsène Wenger. The Arsenal boss signed the precocious son of former England winger Mark Chamberlain after he had helped Southampton FC win promotion to the English second division last season with nine goals in 34 league games.
Costing a reported initial fee of €14m, the teenager’s first appearance in an Arsenal shirt was ill-starred, as an injury-ravaged side were dismantled 8-2 by United at Old Trafford in August. Since then, however, Oxlade-Chamberlain has risen to every challenge set before him: a goal on his full debut for the north Londoners in a League Cup victory over Shrewsbury Town FC; a goal after eight minutes of his UEFA Champions League bow against Olympiacos FC; and a hat-trick for England Under-21s in a 3-0 win against Iceland.
For a while Wenger then withdrew Oxlade-Chamberlain from the senior ranks in order to nurture his promise more gradually, but a combination of first-team injuries and the midfielder’s burgeoning form forced the Frenchman’s hand. The ‘Ox’ – a fitting nickname for a player of powerful build – particularly impressed his manager as a substitute against Swansea City AFC on 15 January.
“When he came on at Swansea I felt ‘oomph’,” said Wenger. “He had an impact straight away and in a very difficult game he was mature. I thought he had made a big improvement
. His defensive work has stepped up as well, but with the ball at Swansea he created danger.” Wenger rewarded that display with a first Premier League start against the English champions seven days later – bringing widespread acclaim – before another outing against Bolton Wanderers FC.
Already signed up by a major sportswear company, whose posters run the strapline “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet”, the tyro’s subsequent performance against Blackburn Rovers FC supported the marketing men’s claim: he scored twice in a 7-1 rout and unhinged the visitors’ rearguard with his incisive raids down the left and through the centre.
Comparisons with Walcott are inevitable, given that the ‘Ox’ has followed the same path from Southampton and possesses similarly searing pace, yet his more athletic frame, eye for the killer pass and fearlessness have also evoked mention of two of the game’s greats. “I feel there is always a brand of top players,” Wenger said of his latest starlet. “They just play. When you saw Rooney start he played like it was natural; the same with Fàbregas. They are happy on the football pitch and comfortable.”
Wenger’s only dilemma is how to manage the growing expectations surrounding such a callow talent, and to avoid the risk of exposing him to injury by overplaying him – a problem that has ruled out Wilshere this term. Already, though, the clamour is growing for Oxlade-Chamberlain to be included in the England squad to face the Netherlands on 29 February and even for UEFA EURO 2012.
“It reminds me of my own period when I was breaking through and was 18 or 19,” said Arsenal captain and Oranje forward Robin van Persie. “He’s not someone who thinks about negatives, just positives, and you can enjoy the game like that
.” When asked whether he should play in this summer’s tournament, Van Persie added: “Why not?”
Before then Oxlade-Chamberlain has a more pressing foreign assignment against AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League round of 16, but if similarities are there with Fàbregas then the Rossoneri had better be on their guard. Four years ago at the same stage of the competition Arsenal secured a 2-0 away victory with the help of a spectacular opening goal by the Spaniard. In the bear pit of San Siro, the stage is set for the ‘Ox’.
Article source: http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=1750426.html?rss=1750426+Arsenal+lifted+by+Oxlade-Chamberlain+emergence
