Ronaldo absent AC Milan, crash out of Champions League

Result: Arsenal 2- 0 AC Milan

Without Brazilian star striker in their squad, out with a serious knee injury, Milan failed to make it through to the quarter finals against Arsenal.

Milan's attack looked blunted and could not use their vast experience to force the issue in a the first half where Arsenal were the better of the two sides.

Milan open brightly enough, with Maldini's header at the near post only thwarted with Cesc Fabregas' goal-line clearance, but once Arsenal got into their stride, they created many good opportunities to score.

Adebayor and Fabregas, who had seen a lot of the ball in the first half looked increasingly likely to score with Fabregas hitting the top of the crossbar from a 20-yard drive.

In the second half, Almunia did well to turn over Pirlo's dipping free kick, although it was on the 70th minute, that Wenger made the bold move of bringing on Theo Walcott, that changed the tide of the match. Within four minutes he almost set up a goal, only for keeper Kalac to stretch out a leg and block his cross with a collection of Arsenal players waiting to pounce.

Arsenal almost paid the price for their lack of clinical finishing in front of goal, when with 12 minutes left, Alexandre Pato was only inches off target with an angled shot that took a deflection off Senderos.

Arsenal finally got the goal they deserved with six minutes left when Fabregas burst through centre of the pitch, with yard of space and sent a low shot into the corner past the despairing dive of Kalac - who was suprised the shot was hit as early as it was by Fabregas.

And a stunning performance got the final flourish it deserved when Walcott crossed perfectly for Adebayor to turn in at the far post.

With Milan out of the Champions league and their title hopes gone, they seem to have failed this season.

Although Ronaldo was not in the side that won the Champions League, it is his kind of instinct, pace and guile that could change the match and with Gilardino looking lost in the supporting striker role and Inzaghi well covered by Gallas, the Milan attack lackted the golden touch.

Good luck to Arsenal and all the other teams left in the tournament, it was a great match for the neutrals with chances at both ends - sadly though, Milan, Champions league title holders, are out of the tournament thanks to the brilliance of a rising star in Cesc Fabregas.

- The Ronaldo R9 Team

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AC Milan vs Arsenal Champions League

Result: 0-0

Arsene wenger's side always faced a tough task, against current UEFA Champions League title holders.

Things started brightly for the visitors as Milan progidy, Alexandre Pato, flicked the ball over Cesc Fabregas showing deft touch, and had his volley blocked by Kolo Toure. The Gunners centre-back was forced off injured and, while the home side were a man down from a corner, Maldini had a near post header palmed to safety by keeper Lehmann.

Arsenal showed great hunger and attacking threat in the final third of the pitch with Cesc Fabregas, Nicklas Bendtner, Emmanuel Eboue, Mathieu Flamini all having sights on goal - but could not make their chances count against the Italians.

Adebayor was gifted a golden opportunity in the last seconds of the game, in the 93rd minuted to statch it, when he headed a point-blank opportunity onto the cross-bar saving Milan from a difficult position when they face at the San Siro.

"We didn't take advantages of the chances that we created," said Wenger. "We were a bit forceful and a bit nervous in the final third or our finishing situations."

"Milan defended with a lot of experience. They adapted to the situation in thinking they would be under pressure and that they would have to defend well, which is what they did."

"But, overall, we played a fantastic game and it's a shame that didn't get us a goal."

No English side has ever beaten Milan at the San Siro, but their coach Carlo Ancelotti refused to write off Arsenal's chances.

"Qualification is still in doubt. We are not yet safe for the return match," he said.

"We're not sure of going through because Arsenal have shown great quality and we know they can do it in the return."

The two sides meet again on 4th March for second-leg at the San Siro - we will cover that match and wait impatiently to see how the two sides shape up before the decider - Ronaldo R9 Team

Arsenal Subs: Lehmann, Sagna, Toure (Senderos 7), Gallas, Clichy, Eboue (Walcott 89), Flamini, Fabregas, Hleb, Adebayor, Eduardo (Bendtner 74).
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Denilson, Silva, Justin Hoyte.

Bookings: Senderos, Eboue

AC Milan Subs: Kalac, Oddo, Nesta (Jankulovski 50), Maldini, Kaladze, Pirlo, Gattuso, Kaka, Seedorf (Emerson 86), Ambrosini, Alexandre Pato (Gilardino 77).
Subs Not Used: Fiori, Inzaghi, Bonera, Brocchi.

Bookings: Alexandre Pato

Attendace: 60,082 (Emirates Stadium)

Referee: Claus Bo Larsen (Denmark).

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