Arsenal vs. AC Milan

3-0, Champions League, Emirates, 06-03-2012
Koscielny 6,
Rosicky 26,
van Persie 43

An inspired display by the team. We may not have scored the four that we needed, but we went out fighting! I think I speak for all the fans when I say that we are proud to support the Arsenal after a game like that.

What pretty much everyone agreed upon before the game was that we needed an early goal to breathe life into the tie. And we got it from the most unlikely source, a corner! It looked as though the team had practised the tactics in training. Three players (Vermaelen, van Persie and Song) backwards, providing valuable space for Laurent Koscielny who could come from behind to meet the ball and head it into the back of the net!
We played brilliant football in the first half, and soon we found ourselves half the way through an (to say the least) unlikely comeback. Walcott's cross was cleared poorly by a defender, and fell straight into the path of Tomas Rosicky, who's shot was perfectly executed! I would like to take this opportunity to compliment the midfielder. He has been in absolutely stunning form these past couple of weeks, and put in another brilliant display in this game.
Before half-time we scored a third, which was more than any could've thought likely to occur! Oxlade-Chamberlain (who was amazing in a central-midfield role) made a great run with the ball, and when he was harshly brought down in the box there was never going to be a discussion about it, penalty was awarded! The skipper, Robin van Persie, was always the one who were going to take the penalty. And always the one who were going to score.

We got agonisingly close to scoring in the second half when Gervinho's shot was blocked by the 'keeper and van Persie got to the rebound, but the 'keeper made a great save to deny us the fourth goal.

Am obviously disappointed at being knocked out of the Champions League, but there is no shame in the manner that we've gone out. Feel immensely proud of the team, it was unfortunate that tiredness got to us in the second half, but hey, we're only human.

Injury Update;
-Walcott picked up an injury in the second half and had to be substituted, but don't know of the extent of the injury.