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With New Wembley hosting this year’s final, both London outfits kept alive their dream of winning the Champions League on home soil, with Spurs defeating the Serie A leaders 1-0 and Arsenal overcoming the La Liga leaders 2-1.
Tuesday’s game saw Tottenham continue to exceed expectations in their debut Champions League appearance. After a quiet first half, which Spurs surprisingly dominated, Milan livened up after the break, forcing Spurs’ goalie Heurelho Gomes into making two excellent saves. But Spurs continued to play well and it was Crouch who scored what turned out to be the winning goal, finishing calmly after Aaron Lennon breathtaking run.
There was a scare in stoppage time as Ibrahimovic’s volley found the net but the goal was disallowed after the striker was correctly adjudged to have fouled Michael Dawson. In spite of ugly scenes after the whistle, with Milan’s captain Gennaro Gattuso head butting Tottenham’s coach Joe Jordan, the game will be remembered for Tottenham’s excellent performance.
In keeping a clean sheet away from home to a team that include the attacking talents of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho, Spurs dispelled the myth that they cannot defend. Whereas in the group stages Tottenham adopted an attacking, gung-ho attitude, at the San Siro Redknapp arranged his players in an organized, solid 4-4-1-1 formation.
Despite Redknapp expressing concern prior to the match that his squad does not possess enough defensive-minded players, the players he did pick rose to the occasion; most notably the central midfield pair of Sandro and Wilson Palacios, who despite looking out of their depth all season in the Premiership, produced exceptional performances, making tackle after tackle and dominating the midfield.
Arsenal’s achievement was arguably even more impressive. Barcelona is the best team in Europe and has won 20 of their 23 league games this season. And unlike Milan, Barca was able to field a full strength 11, who played as well as we’re used to seeing them perform.
Arsenal confirmed that they meant business from the start, lining up in their usual attacking formation with Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott looking threatening. But Barca asserted themselves after 26 minutes when Lionel Messi’s inch-perfect through ball was comfortably converted by David Villa.
But the Gunners showed spirit throughout and were rewarded for their perseverance. In an alarming five minute spell for Barca, Robin Van Persie equalised from a seemingly impossible angle, quickly followed by Andrei Arshavin finishing off a slick move instigated by Samir Nasri and Fabregas.
This victory was not without a heavy dose of luck, however. Lionel Messi had a perfectly good goal disallowed and Barca were unlucky not be awarded at least one of two penalty claims. But in spite of this and the Catalans’ dominance of possession, Arsenal can still be credited for not compromising their usual attacking, stylish approach, and for ultimately proving more than a match for the 2008/09 champions. Special mention must go to teenager Jack Wilshere, who looked both classy and at home in a midfield populated by the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Fabregas.
But it is, of course, only half-time in both of these fixtures, with the second legs to be played in three weeks time. Tottenham must be wary that Milan will not play so badly next time and Arsenal aware that a 2-1 lead will be difficult to defend at the Nou Camp. But, both sides having performed better in the first leg than expected, there’s hope still that North London will have two representatives in the quarter finals.
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