AC Milan vs. Arsenal: Zlatan Ibrahimovic Played Vital Supporting Role in Win

It is a story we hear over and over again. Like the constant chatter during the NFL season about Tim Tebow, and now the "Linsanity" about the new NBA star Jeremy Lin. We hear the same thing before every, single big match involving Zlatan Ibrahimovic—he can't play in the big games.

The towering Swede has been a dominant force in the world's game since his emergence onto the big scene after leaving local club Malmo for Dutch and European giants Ajax. Since then, in a career that has seen him play for the three-biggest Italian clubs, Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan—as well as the current world giants Barcelona.

During his career, the now 30-year-old has been incredible. In 465 games (domestic league, domestic cup and Europe), the man famously nicknamed Ibracadabra has scored 220 times and provided 88 assists. He is one of the greatest strikers of the current generation.

However, the biggest flack that he takes is in European competition. Ibrahimovic has never won the Champions League, but he has been on teams that had the capability.

This season's AC Milan team may be the second-most capable team that Ibrahimovic has been on behind the 2009-10 Barcelona squad. At 30 years old, time is running out. Ibrahimovic has said before that he intends to retire after his contract expires in 2014, so the time to win is now.

Despite the critics, Ibrahimovic is making himself a big-game player at the right time.

Before scoring the penalty kick that put Milan ahead of Arsenal 4-0 on Wednesday, Ibrahimovic was a menace for the Gunners' defense. His work on the ball set Robinho up for a vital second goal right before halftime that completely deflated Arsenal. He added a second assist early in the second half that put the match beyond any doubt.

On Milan's second goal, Robinho's first, Ibra used his powerful dribble and pace to get free. He pulled the ball down towards the touchline, drawing Bacary Sagna and Laurent Koscielny away from the middle—leaving the Brazilian free to slip in past Thomas Vermaelen, and put his head to the perfectly placed cross.

Robinho was the star, but Ibrahimovic could win an Oscar for his Best Supporting Actor role on Wednesday. He drew a lot of attention to himself. A guy that has 15 goals in 19 matches in Serie A, and who had four-in-four matches in the Champions League heading into Wednesday needs to be watched at all times. He was able to bring attention to himself, allowing his teammates to do what they do best.

Obviously he got his goal on the penalty kick, making him the first person to score goals in five-consecutive Champions League matches since Arsenal's Marouane Chamakh—but he did more important things then scoring.

It was his penalty that put this draw beyond reach. AC Milan basically has two feet in the Quarterfinals. They would need to lose 5-0 or by six if they score. Against Milan's defense that isn't happening. It hasn't happened to any club in European history after winning the first leg 4-0 (167 instances). That said, Ibrahimovic put himself in position to be a key-supporting player for the faster, more slippery Robinho.

That is the attacking pairing that seems to work best. With Kevin-Prince Boateng playing trequartista, Milan arguably has the best attacking trio outside of Spain. Anyone can be the star on any night.

While Robinho will take the match ball and Boateng will have songs sung about him for the incredible strike in the 15th minute, Ibrahimovic needs to be seen as one of the stars of the match for his instrumental role in opening up Arsenal's defense—and allowing his teammates the space they needed to score.