Robinho strikes for Milan as they put one foot firmly in the CL quarters Kevin-Prince Boateng and Robinho put their painful Premier League past behind them to leave masterful AC Milan well on course for the Champions League quarter finals. The pair might have been flops during spells at Spurs and Manchester City, but they were tops last night as they shared three of the four goals that gave masterful AC Milan a commanding last 16 firstleg lead over their English foes. Boateng claimed he never felt “welcome” during his troubled two years at Tottenham which saw him party more than play.
But fans of his former club will be rolling out the red carpet next time he’s in town as they will have loved his sizzler against their London rivals. Out for a month with a muscular problem, Boateng showed unstoppable power and precision for the 15th minute opener.
A poor clearance from Wojciech Szczesny saw the ball land at the feet of Antonio Nocerino. His chip picked out Boateng in the box and he took one touch to control the ball on his chest before blasting right-footed past the Arsenal keeper.
It was a goal fit for a king. There was to be no respite for Arsenal as the hosts duly delivered a second in the 38th minute. Ibrahimovic was a foot offside when he sneaked in behind Bacary Sagna to race onto Urby Emanuelson’s pass, but he got the benefit of the doubt and made the most of it.
The Swede stretched his legs, confidently rolled his foot over the ball and then clipped an inviting cross for Robinho to nod into the net. Arsenal’s defence was in disarray and already without Per Mertesacker, their problems were compounded by the loss of Laurent Koscielny just before the break.
Arsene Wenger was grateful half time halted the onslaught and allowed him to bring on Thierry Henry for the ineffective Theo Walcott. But there was to be no fairytale farewell for the on-loan Frenchman in his final game before heading back to New York – only more San Siro suffering as Milan had a third goal to savour in the 49th minute.
Ibrahimovic played a loose pass towards Robinho, Thomas Vermaelen slipped and the Brazilian turned and whipped a low shot into the corner. The seven-time champions added to their misery with a fourth in the 79th minute when Ibrahimovic drove his spot-kick into the corner.