THAT’S MORE LIKE IT, ARSENE!
Wenger’s gone from zero to San Siro hero as Arsenal stun Milan
ARSENE, a word of advice: take last night’s performance at San Siro and bottle it. Screw the lid on extra tight. And whatever you do, don’t spill a drop.
Because, Mr Wenger, it is this Arsenal that keeps you in a job. It is this Arsenal that has a fighting chance of winning the Europa League. It is this Arsenal that can muster a semblance of pride from another disappointing season under your stewardship.
Last night more than ever, Wenger needed his players to come out swinging. The consequence of a heavy defeat against AC Milan would surely have put Wenger on the brink.
Finally, though, Arsenal’s players came through for their beleaguered manager, first-half goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Aaron Ramsey ensuring their latest crisis did not plummet to deeper depths.
Lose against Watford in the Premier League on Sunday and Wenger will face further questions about his future. That is life at the Emirates right now.
Not last night, though. Wenger’s players gave their manager some respite. And after the two weeks he has endured, including severe criticism after the 3- 0 Carabao Cup final defeat by Manchester City, he will take anything he can get right now.
All of a sudden the Europa League has taken on significant importance for him. Win the competition and qualify for the Champions League and the Frenchman almost certainly keeps his job. Elimination? Well, that doesn’t bear thinking about.
The under-pressure manager vowed to get back to basics as he looked to halt an alarming sequence of four straight defeats. Wenger go defensive? Surely not. But it is a case of needs must at the moment.
On a night where staying in the tie ahead of next week’s return leg at the Emirates was the priority, being pragmatic was not the worst idea.
Indeed, the Gunners had to be resolute during the opening 10 minutes as Milan came storming out of the blocks, Giacomo Bonaventura a whisker away from tapping home Suso’s inswinging cross.
You would have feared for Arsenal if they conceded early. Showing character in adversity is hardly their strong point.
Suso then fired into the side netting after finding gaping holes down Arsenal’s left before Hakan Calhanoglu chose to stay on his feet when going down would have given referee Clement Turpin a big decision to make after David Ospina rushed out of his goal.
Slowly, though, Arsenal stemmed the tide. Mkhitaryan fired into the side netting after a threatening move involving Jack Wilshere and Mesut Ozil, before Danny Welbeck mis- controlled in a dangerous position inside the home side’s penalty area.
When Arsenal’s opener arrived in the 15th minute, it was somewhat fortuitous. Mkhitaryan’s strike from Ozil’s pass took a big deflection off Leonardo Bonucci before flying past Gianluigi Donnarumma. But if there is a club and manager who could do with a break at the moment, then it is Arsenal and Wenger. And just like that, you could see the confidence gently seep back into his players.
AC Milan are much improved since Rino Gattuso took over as manager in November.
The fact Mkhitaryan’s goal was the first his side have conceded in a month paints a formidable picture.
But after weathering the early storm, Arsenal had the measure of the Italians. That bodes well for the second leg.
Wilshere, playing in the No 10 role, was having the sort of influence that will surely see him handed an England recall when Gareth Southgate names his squad next week for friendlies against Holland and Italy.
Ozil was strutting around like he owned San Siro while Mkhitaryan was proving a real handful as he ventured in from the lefthand side. Calum Chambers forced Donnarumma into a good save at his near post before Welbeck fired straight at the Milan keeper when sent clean through in the 43rd minute.
The Gunners came close again seconds later, Mkhitaryan thumping his effort off the bar after a rapid counter-attack led by Welbeck.
But Wenger’s men were not to be denied another before half-time and again Ozil was the instigator, his through- ball unlocking Milan’s defence allowing Ramsey
to round Donnarumma before tapping into an empty net.
Gattuso stood in his technical area with steam coming out of his ears. Half-time would not have been pretty for Milan’s players.
But they were up against a team who were in the groove. Finally.
Milan mustered a promising response in the second half, Bonaventura firing over before Suso fired wide from a good position in the closing stages.
But even then, it was Welbeck who missed the best opportunity of the second half, failing to finish after Franck Kessie’s awful backpass.
Why can’t it be this easy every week, Arsene? The Arsenal manager will probably be asking the same question.