Post Last Edit by matsyeh at 7-3-2012 09:10
Arsenal vs AC Milan Player Ratings
AC Milan Christian Abbiati - 8.5 The Italian goalkeeper helped keep the scoreline down as he carried out some impressive saves, especially in the 60th minute when made a double save off Gervinho and Van Persie. Was confident in punching out crosses and played a crucial role in ensuring Milan didn't have to endure extra-time and perhaps an exit from Europe. Ignazio Abate - 6 The Spanish fullback had a day to forget as while he was good in defence, making several key tackles on Gervinho rendering the Ivory Coast winger ineffectual, he was poor in attack. He repeatedly tried to shoot from the right wing when he should have instead looked to feed the Milan strikers. Philippe Mexes - 6 The former Roma defender was decent for much of the game as he stopped a couple of runs by Oxlade-Chamberlain and closely tracked Van Persie. But he was let down by the poor performances of the rest of his defence. Thiago Silva - 5 Silva was poor for much of the game and it was his botched pass that gave Rosicky a golden chance to score Arsenal's second goal. For a defender with as much experience as the Brazilian international, he should have known that he needed to hoof the ball away instead of passing it away. Djamel Mesbah (off 90') - 5 The Algerian defender was culpable for Arsenal's third goal as he failed to track Oxlade-Chamberlain properly and some poor communication with Antonio Nocerino meant that Oxlade-Chamberlain could squeeze between the two and earn an easy foul. The defender slipped and fell and tackled poorly and generally looked like he wasn't ready for the game. Antonio Nocerino - 6 Nocerino was anonymous for much of the game until the 77th minute when Alberto Aquilani's through-ball found him unmarked and at the near post but his shot was weak and saved by Szczesny. He should have drilled it in and helped get some breathing space for his side, stretched thin as they were by a spirited Arsenal attack. Mark van Bommel - 5.5 The Dutch captain was often tackled when he was supposed to be doing the tackling and he was bereft of ideas when going forward. The former Bayern Munich player also failed to close down the Arsenal attackers as he was slow both on and off the ball. Urby Emanuelson - 5 Emanuelson didn't take the chance to declare his first team credentials as Rosicky managed to make several runs around him. The Dutch player did not even produce anything of substance up in attack and was a liability for the Milan side. Robinho - 4.5 The Brazilian was left very much on his own up front as Ibrahimovic's poor decision-making meant that he couldn't find his strike partner for much of the game. Also, his attempts to dribble and jink past Arsenal defenders were poor and easily read by Koscielny and Vermaelen. Zlatan Ibrahimovic - 4 Ibrahimovic was horrible for much of the game and seemed a completely different player from the one that played in the first leg. Time and again, he found himself in an offside position making it extremely difficult for Milan to come through with a goal. Only in the 76th minute did the Swede show his quality as he hit a scorching low shot that needed Szczesny to pay full attention. Stephan El Shaarawy (off 70') - 6 The teenager was poor in the game and when he managed to get behind Gibbs in the 45th minute, his shot was woefully inaccurate and he posed no threat to Szczesny for much of the game. Subs Aquilani (on 70') - 7 He presented a glorious opportunity for Nocerino with a brilliant pass to the near post that went through several Arsenal defenders. He was unable to exert much of an influence for the remainder of the 20 minutes that he was in the game for, however, as he rarely managed to get a chance to do much with the ball as Arsenal heavily pressed forward seeking the last goal. Daniele Bonera (on 90') - N/A
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