AC Milan 4-0 Arsenal

ROBINHO: Two goals for Milan

Former Manchester City man, Robinho, struck twice to to put an end to Arsenal’s Champions League dreams as AC Milan ended Arsenal's unbeaten run against Italian sides to an embarrassing end.

Former Tottenham man Kevin-Prince Boateng’s stunning strike in the 15^th minute put the Rossonieri ahead before Robinho doubled and then trebled their lead.

Ibrahimovic scored a penalty in the 79^th minute to kill off the game beyond doubt and in doing so ensured that he has scored in every Champions League game he’s played in this season. Ibrahimovic made a nuisance of himself from the kick-off and looked every bit the player he says he is, creating and scoring goals tonight.

Arsenal had a good chunk of the possession in the opening ten minutes but their good spell ended there. Boateng’s strike of the night from the right-hand side rattled the underside of the bar and then the bottom of the net, leaving Szczesny helpless and Arsenal were 1-0 down before they knew it.

The pitch didn’t do either team any favours but it could be suggested that the wide-flanks, where the worst of it was, would affect Arsenal’s play more than the home side.

Arsenal’s defence were at their poorest since the start of the season and Milan’s front three of Ibrahimovic, Boateng and Robinho ran them ragged.

If things couldn’t get worse for the Gunners’ back line, Laurent Koscielny, who was their best defender by far and away with Vermaelen having a torrid time, had to be replaced with Djourou just before the break.

AC Milan were troubled by their own injury problems and manager, Allegri found himself having to bring on Urby Emanuelson for the injured Clarence Seedorf just after the 10 minute mark.

Robinho made it 2-0 before half time heading home a perfectly chipped ball from Ibrahimovic from five yards out.

Half time saw changes made from Arsenal and a final Champions League appearance for Thierry Henry who replaced the lacklustre Theo Walcott.

But the change didn’t rectify the problems and Robinho doubled his tally for the night after an unfortunate Vermaelen slip on the edge of the box allowed him the space to pick his spot and smash his effort towards goal.

Arsenal very nearly got one back just after the 60^th minute when Henry and Van Persie teamed up to create a rare Arsenal chance which forced a save from ‘keeper Marco Amelia.

The French maestro flicked the ball up with his heel for the prolific Van Persie to strike it on the volley but Amelia did well to tip the shot round the post.

Szczesny’s first save came in the third minute of stoppage time when he was forced to stop a later strike from Pato. Four Milan shots hit the back of the net and the other ten were off-target.

Arsenal have an important couple of weeks ahead with the FA Cup game then Tottenham and Liverpool in the league. If they continue to perform the way they did tonight then their season will be over sooner rather than later.

Liverpool 0-0 Tottenham

Gareth Bale missed a late chance to snatch all three points for Tottenham, despite missing their manager, in what was far from a classic at Anfield.

Spurs managed to keep Liverpool at bay and neither team really deserved the victory although the home side marginally had the better of the chances but could not find a way through a resolute Spurs defence.

Redknapp failed to make the journey north, due to court commitments, no doubt, but he would have been proud of the discipline his team showed.

SUAREZ: Return spiked with controversy

The return of Luis Suarez, who came on to rapturous applause from the Kop, saw him almost make the headlines but he fluffed his header from 6 yards with under ten minutes to go but Bale definitely had the pick of the bunch with his chance.

The Welshman was through on goal after making a bursting sprint for Pepe Reina only to fire his shot straight at the ‘keeper.

A rare sliced shot from Gareth Bale near the six yard box sent a Spurs chance begging just ten minutes after the break.

The first half was also a  particularly uneventful affair with a cat making most of the half time headlines. Yes, a moggy ran onto the pitch and caused the game to stop while various stewards, and Brad Friedel, tried to catch the poor animal who was trespassing on the pitch.

Liverpool tried two free-kick takers in the first half, first up Gerard and then Bellamy both with the same outcome; the ball went straight into the wall from a promising position.

The game was scrappy all round actually with both teams struggling to maintain any prolonged period of possession with Jay Spearing and Andy Carroll looking particularly woeful.

Man of the match, Scott Parker, said: “When you come to Anfield it’s difficult, we’ve come here and got a point and that’s the most important thing.”

Suarez’s comeback was not without controversy when he kicked Parker in the box by accident, of course. He protested his innocence but I’m not sure his eyes were on the ball. Maybe the balls more like. Parker confirmed to Andy Burton that his ‘crown jewels’ are in one piece.

The one manager who was present, Kenny Daglish, said: “We are really pleased with the way that the team kept our shape, we have played the top sides and we’ve done really well.”

Despite Liverpool having the lowest conversion rate of chances to goals in the league Daglish insisted that he had nothing to worry about and a cup final to look forward to.

He remained characteristically defiant on the Suarez subject, he said: “Fantastic for us to get him back, he should never have been out in the first place.”

Premier League Round Up

Arsenal Hit The Top

Arsenal are top of the league after their win against Fulham at the Emirates. United sit just one point below The Gunners’ with a game in hand after their game against Blackpool was called off due to the bad weather. Despite the win, Arsenal fans remain frustrated at the inability to keep a clean sheet. It has been almost a month since Arsenal kept the opposition off the score sheet in the league when the beat Wolves at Molineux. With Thomas Vermaelen out until January at least the Gunners' will have to continue with operation we'll-score-more-than-you. However, usually the league winners consist of the team who have had the best defence throughout a season which might worry fans slightly. Next up for Arsenal is Manchester United at Old Trafford and although Samir Nasri has been outstanding there is talk of Cesc Fabregas returning to fitness in time for the match which would give Wenger's side a huge boost.

Hughton Down and Out

He's even got Newcastle hair

Newcastle United sack Chris Hughton and appoint Alan Pardew. I know what you're thinking. Me too. What on earth is going on? This is a difficult subject to comment on since it's not a decision that  can be made sense of in footballing terms. Pardew, having last been sacked by League One side Southampton must have jumped at the chance to manage a Premier League club. So, why did Hughton get the boot? “Lack of Premier League experience”, claims Newcastle owner Mike Ashley. I would like to know how much Premier League experience you need to take a newly promoted team to 19 points before Christmas including wins over rivals Sunderland, a 6-0 win over Aston Villa and a victory at the Emirates. It seems that, inexplicably, Ashley has been looking for an excuse to sack Hughton for some time now. How are new managers supposed to gain relevant experience these days if not given the chance? Alan Pardew’s reign at West Ham United ended in sacking and saw West Ham through their worst run in 70 years, not all-in-all great experience one might think.

Dutch Courage for Liverpool

Liverpool completed the weekend’s fixtures on Monday night when they made easy work of an under-strength Villa side at Anfield. Ryan Babel started the match in a central forward role and the young Dutchman finally looked as if he may live up to all the hype after all – something which never looked likely under Rafa Benitez. The forward was lively and showed exceptional skill when he controlled the ball with a deft touch of the shoulder while on the turn and then smashed it across Brad Friedel into the net in what was Liverpool’s second of the evening. The importance of Dirk Kuyt was again reiterated; the first goal coming from a corner which Kuyt won after chasing down a nothing ball and forcing the Villa defence to concede a corner which lead to the opening goal for The Reds. As Liverpool get back to full strength hopefully a better reflection of Roy Hodgson as a manager will begin to shine through.