Wenger’s Houdini Act

MILAN. — Devastated, dazed and confused.

Not the crushed AC Milan players the bewildered Arsenal fans who won’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Arsene Wenger really is the Teflon Don. He is Al Pacino’s Tony Montana, shooting his way out of trouble just when his critics think they have him where they want him.

You are going to need an army if you are going to take the Gunners boss.

This was supposed to be his last stand. His Waterloo. His players had supposedly downed tools on him and were set to be burnt to a crisp in the fire reignited by Gennaro Gattuso in his AC Milan fighters.

Yet here we are. Barring a miracle at the Emirates Arsenal are now through with their two away goals and - you have to say - an impressive display.

Every time the game looks up for Wenger he pulls a monster result out of the bag. Every time it looks for sure that he has faced his final curtain, he survives to keep his story running longer than The Mousetrap.

The travelling fans voiced their delight but pointedly did not voice their support for Wenger.

He won’t care. His dream of Europa League success, the backdoor into next season’s Champions League that will make it harder to sack him, remains alive.

Tony Adams, Thierry Henry and all the other Arsenal pretenders to the crown in the Gunners’ Game of Thrones will have to wait just that little bit longer.