Arsenal Shines in San Siro Triumph, Iwobi Watches from the Bench

In a spectacular return to form, Arsenal secured a convincing 2-0 victory against AC Milan in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League round of 16 on Thursday, ending their four-game winless streak. Super Eagles forward Alex Iwobi, despite his talent, remained an unused substitute in this remarkable performance.

The match saw a bright start from AC Milan, but it was Arsenal that seized the lead in the 15th minute. Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s right-footed shot found the net, taking a slight deflection along the way. In the dying moments of the first half, Aaron Ramsey doubled the lead, skillfully converting a through pass from Mesut Ozil after rounding Gianluigi Donnarumma.

This victory holds significance for Arsenal, marking their first win at the San Siro since the 2-0 triumph in the second-leg round of 16 of the Champions League in 2008.

In another noteworthy fixture on Thursday night, two-time Europa League champions Atletico Madrid (2010, 2012) demonstrated their prowess with a commanding 3-0 win over visiting Lokomotiv Moscow. Saul Niguez, Diego Costa, and Koke scored in the 22nd, 47th, and 90th minutes, respectively.

In other results, Dortmund faced a surprising setback with a 2-1 home defeat by Austrian side Salzburg, while Lyon secured a narrow 1-0 victory over CSKA Moscow in Russia. Super Eagles star Ahmed Musa, who played the full 90 minutes, couldn’t prevent CSKA Moscow from falling to Lyon.

All eyes now turn to the return legs scheduled for Thursday, March 15, as the drama and excitement of the UEFA Europa League continue to unfold.