Arsenal vs AC Milan - Emirates Stadium, London - Wednesday 20th February 2008

After the total disaster of the FA Cup game against Manchester United at the weekend, but also given that Arsenal are 5 points clear at the top of the Premiership, it has been an up and down few weeks for Arsenal fans. Things are seemingly getting better and better in the League (although our rivals dropping points always helps there), but 2 catastrophic exits from the domestic cups - first 5-1 at Spurs, and then 4-0 at Manchester United - really make you wonder. Losing and being knocked out is one thing, but the abject performances, the total lack of heart, and the fact that we just didn't show up for either game, have caused significant concern. Maybe we are concentrating on the League and Champions League, but that could turn out to be a risky strategy, especially if we end up winning neither.

Anyway, tonight was the long awaited resumption of the Champions League, after our draw against AC Milan. Another one of those times where you question the wisdom of "throwing away" certain games, as we seem to have done this season. Had we won our group, we could have played Fenerbahce, Lyon, Celtic or Olympiakos - hardly the scariest ties out there. But, after a defeat for a reserve team in Seville, we came second in the group, and got drawn against the reigning European Champions (oh, who also happen to be the most successful club in the history of football).

Given the draw, we may live to regret not taking the Seville away game a bit more seriously. Despite poor form this season so far, and trouble with injuries (but then, so do we have injuries), AC Milan are a top, top side. Just looking at the big screen in the stadium made you think "wow". All household names, people like Maldini, Nesta, Kaka, Seedorf, Gattuso, and the new boy wonder Pato.

The game itself showed the best and worst of Arsenal. We outplayed the European Champions for the vast majority of the game, creating at least a dozen very good opportunities to score. Philippe Senderos was awesome in defence, coming on as a very early substitute after an injury to Kolo Toure that looked worrying. Our passing and movement were incredible at times - Milan were keen to let us play football, and we took full advantage, playing some amazing stuff for parts of the game. And finally, we emerged with the all important clean sheet, denying Milan an away goal, and meaning that we do not have a mountain to climb in the second leg.

Having said all that, we failed to score any of the chances, and failed to leave something lasting (like a goal, or the win) to show for the utter dominance we had at times. Adebayor missed a sitter at the end, which kind of summed the night up. We outplayed the European Champions, but have nothing much to show for it, which is something Arsenal tend to do from time to time - and leaves you with mixed feelings as a fan. I am very pleased with the performance, very frustrated that we couldn't score, and somewhat worried that Milan will be quietly pleased at the result today.

No English team has ever beaten Milan in the San Siro - luckily, we don't need to, because a score draw will be enough - and we have faced the same stat before playing Inter there (which we won), and also Madrid in the Bernabeu (which we won). All is still to play for, we are definitely good enough to beat Milan - just a shame we aren't already most of the way towards doing it.