Arsenal: AC Milan can go ahead and stuff their sorry’s in a sack

Arsenal’s Europa League draw got an immediate response from AC Milan, but they made have made a fatal mistake in underestimation.

Arsenal didn’t get the best Europa League round of 16 draw ever, but they didn’t get the worst either. They got the most medium draw. But, according to AC Milan sporting director Massimiliano Mirabelli, they have no worries about the draw.

"I’m sorry for Arsenal, who I’m sure would have liked to have continued in Europe. It would have been a nice final, but I’m happy. It’s best to face a big club like Arsenal now. We needed opponents like these."

That’s what he had to say. Which, if you’re into banter, is good fun, because he literally wasted no time before he started throwing out taunts. I’m not sure what his purpose was, but as I will get to in a second, I do believe he has made a huge mistake.

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Of course, back in 2012, these two sides faced in the Champions League round of 16 under much different circumstances and the Gunners were thumped 4-0 at the San Siro but returned to London and won 3-0, still falling short but putting up a good show regardless.

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The reason why I think Mirabelli made a critical mistake isn’t because I have literally never predicted an Arsenal loss (which, by the way, I actually don’t think I have), it’s because Mirabelli hs done the one thing that I think always guarantees a response from the Gunners – he has poked the bear.

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These Gunners are guilty of underestimating opponents. Think Monaco, Ostersunds. Hell, Swansea too. But they are also just as capable of punishing teams for underestimating them. I’m thinking mostly of the FA Cup final against Chelsea when literally everyone predicted Chelsea would run rampant and the opposite happened.

Again in the Community Shield, everyone predicted Chelsea would get revenge. They didn’t.

By the way, Jamie Redknapp agrees with me. 

The Gunners are frequently lacking in confidence, they are frequently lacking in urgency. Mirabelli just gave them a reason to buck up and focus. Which, as silly as it may sound, is something that Arsenal need more times than not because somehow Arsene Wenger and the allure of trophies doesn’t always do it.

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I was thrilled when Mirabelli issued his faux apology. He gave the Gunners the one thing they lack far too often – motivation. And I think he will find that a motivated red and white is a scary beast to face, home or away.