AC Milan vs Arsenal: Drubbing Displays 2 Clubs Going in Different Directions

AC Milan and Arsenal couldn't be headed in more opposite directions than they are right now. This fact was slammed home with the Rossoneri's 4-0 thrashing of the Gunners in a Champions League match played in San Siro. 

For Milan, it was the latest step towards their resurgence. For the Gunners, it was a sign of their demise in what is turning into a roller coaster campaign. 

The Blowout

Milan was dominant in every way a team can be dominant in this match. The highlight of this contest for the Gunners was when it mercifully came to an end. 

Even before Milan cracked the scoreboard with a goal by Kevin-Prince Boateng in the 15th minute, this game was over. 

The Gunners were just not in it. They couldn't control the ball and they couldn't keep Milan from executing their game plan. 

Milan didn't score again until the 38th minute when Robinho netted his first of two goals, but the flow of the game had not changed. This game was securely over at that point. 

Opposing Paths

On February 8th, Milan lost to the team they are battling for first place in Serie A, Juventus, in the Coppa Italia Semifianls. 

At that point, they appeared to have had the wind knocked out of their sails and seemed destined for second place. 

They have since shown they are not ready to throw in the towel. Without striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, they beat another Serie A contender Udinese, 2-1. 

They now stepped their game up another notch by this complete dismantling of the Gunners and have shown they are not going down in Serie A without a fight. 

Meanwhile, the Gunners are treading water at best. This club was 3-0-1 in their last four matches entering this game and the hope was that they were finally finding a sustainable rhythm. That hope has disappeared. 

This offense is far too reliant on Robin van Persie and their defense can't withstand the inevitable lack of possession they face whenever their opposition is of decent caliber. 

The future is now for Milan. The future is whenever the front office decides it wants to commit to building a winner for the Gunners.