THAT’S A EUROPEY WIN FOR GUNNERS
Welbeck dive shame but Arsenal ease through
WHAT should have been a memorable win over a European superpower was overshadowed by a blatant piece of cheating.
Let’s not even try to excuse it or dress it up as anything else, the game will be remembered for Danny Welbeck’s blatant dive to win a penalty.
Even Arsenal fans were left appalled and, ultimately, it was the moment that decided the whole tie because it came at a time when AC Milan were threatening to stage a memorable fightback.
Up stepped Welbeck and coolly slotted home the spot-kick, but it effectively killed off AC Milan and put the Gunners (Arsene Wenger, right) into the quarter-finals.
Gone are the days when we used to accuse foreign players of diving because our own are getting just as bad.
After getting such a fright in the last round against Ostersunds, it was never going to be straightforward for Arsenal despite doing all the hard work in the San Siro.
They started nervously, not knowing whether to stick or twist with the 2-0 lead from the first leg, and Milan could have scored within a minute.
The visitors opened up Arsenal’s defence all too easily and their No.9 Andre Silva smashed a shot into the sidenetting from 15 yards when he looked certain to score.
Arsenal’s cause was not helped any when captain Laurent Koscielny landed awkwardly, hurt his back, then hobbled off after just 11 minutes to be replaced by Calum Chambers. The hosts were edgy but looked good when they moved the ball quickly, launching counter attacks with the pace of Welbeck, who saw a 25thminute shot blocked by Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma’s legs. But after a nervy start, suddenly the game exploded into life. First, Milan stunned the Emirates on 36 minutes with a brilliant goal from Hakan Calhanoglu. The Turkey midfielder got the ball 30 yards out, cut inside, then unleashed a swerving, dipping