AC Milan 0-2 Arsenal
Oh, how Arsenal needed this!
In the splendid setting of the San Siro against a Milan side unbeaten in 13 matches, many sports betting fans were lining up to see another nail hammered into the coffin of Arsene Wenger’s tenure.
However, on the night eight football games produced 22 goals, the North Londoners scored two of their most important ones for some time.
Betting odds had suggested the Italians were one of the tournament favourites.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan picked the perfect time to score his first goal for the Gunners. And after then hitting the crossbar did the crowd see the returning Aaron Ramsey slot home the second from Mesut Ozil’s threaded through ball.
From then, they held off Milan with comparative ease to bring a welcome change to what Wenger had branded a ‘nightmare week’.
In becoming the first side to win at the San Siro in this competition (or its UEFA Cup equivalent) since 2002, Arsenal gained the result of the night and one which may have just kept their season alive.
If this was a slight surprise, then Borussia Dortmund were involved in the shock of the night, beaten 2-1 at home by Red Bull Salzburg.
Elsewhere, Lazio and Dynamo Kyiv are deadlocked at 2-2 after an exciting 90 minutes – the Ukrainians are unbeaten at home this season. Athletic Bilbao won’t have given up on overturning a 3-1 deficit to Marseille.
And there were victories for Lyon, RB Leipzig and Sporting Lisbon.
It’s only half-time in these ties, but Spanish giants Atletico Madrid are probably the competition favourites.
Their tag was emphasised by a 3-0 home victory over Lokomotiv Moscow.
But this was a welcome respite in an evening Arsenal showed spirit and resolve.
Second leg time next week!
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