Arsenal vs. Milan: Youth vs. Experience

In football, a balance between experience and youth is important. This subtle difference can provide just enough on a big occasion to win a game.

Arsenal and AC Milan epitomize two teams with very different philosophies on this.

Current Champions league holders Milan generally start with two players under the age of 30—Kaka and Andrea Pirlo.

Their most celebrated player, 39-year-old Paulo Maldini, played in the team's only European encounters 13 years ago. He has played 162 games in European Cup competitions and, according the Milan website, 1,000 in all competitions.

Arsenal rarely has three over the age of 30 in their starting lineup. Arsene Wenger’s youth policy has catapulted stars like Cesc Fabregas, Kolo Toure, and Emmanuel Adebayour to genuine EPL title contenders. Although their team is still young, they too have gained experience in the past three seasons, and each year get closer to success.

In domestic competition played over 35 games or more, youth trumps experience because, over of an entire season, energy, fitness, and strength are bound to play a huge role.

In the Champions league, where there are fewer games and teams have more rest between rounds, teams like Milan that value experience over youth are less hamstrung by the demanding schedules.

This is evident in the current domestic league standings. Arsenal is first, five points ahead of Manchester United in the English Premier League, whereas AC Milan languish in fifth, 21 points behind league leaders Inter. Though not as young as Arsenal, Inter’s squad as a whole is younger than Milan’s.

There is also a difference in the culture of the Italian game and the English game. The Italians favor more experienced players in general. Their style or football is slower, measured, and built on counterattacking. Their league games are characterized by fewer goals, allowing players to compete at the higher levels for longer.

The English style is faster, bullish, and relies heavily on speed and strength, providing fans with entertaining football.

Last year many thought the pace of Rooney and Ronaldo and United’s demolition of Roma was proof that the old guard of Milan would struggle against such youthful attacking abandon. It was Milan, led by the genius of Kaka, that prevailed and, at times, made United look ordinary, or moreover, amateur.

Arsenal, however, buck the trend.

Wenger’s styled is based on passing, patient buildups, and quick movement off the ball. It is more continental, more in line with the Italian style. But this season has been characterized by a cutting thrust and goals, hence their position in the EPL. Barcelona’s Lionel Messi recently said there is no point in playing beautiful football if you lose.

Both teams recent form is impressive. Despite their league position, Milan is unbeaten in seven Serie A and four Champions league matches. Arsenal, despite a poor performance against United, won their previous four EPL games and four of five in the Champions League.

Perhaps Arsenal’s unique brand of football, which marries the measured and patient continental style with the pace and determination of the EPL, is best suited to counter the Italians.

Playing at home they will have to win and hope to not concede. Having to chase the game at the San Siro could leave them open to the counterattack.