AC Milan have been so under par this season that the San Siro has hardly ever been full. Inter have been so dominant in Serie A that some of their fans have not bothered to fill the 80, 000 arena to see another regulation victory. 

Tuesday’s crunch Champions League last 16, second leg between Milan and Arsenal was therefore a rare chance for me to experience the “San Siro bounce”.

When it is packed to the rafters and fans jump up and down, the San Siro shakes and sways ever so slightly. I was rather alarmed when I first felt it, but Italian colleagues and structural engineers tell me it is normal. 

If Arsenal’s players felt the vibrations on the pitch, It did not put them off. Arsene Wenger’s young guns outplayed Milan for large parts of the game and deserved the 2-0 win which sent the Premier League leaders into the quarter-finals.

It was Milan’s first defeat at home to an English side but in truth it had been coming.

Fifth in Serie A, the ageing Rossoneri have lost much of their zip and Carlo Ancelotti’s position as manager is now surely under threat, especially if they fail to reach the Champions League next season.

For Arsenal, the famous victory will do wonders for their confidence. They have seen their lead in England cut to one point but rather than distract them from domestic matters, the win will show them just how good they are.

The name Thierry Henry has been completely forgotten. Emmanuel Adebayor, who grabbed the second in stoppage time, was immense up front alone while Cesc Fabregas hit the bar before his 25 metre strike put them one up.

If Arsenal can just learn to shoot more often rather than trying to walk the ball in, even at the San Siro, they will be an even more effective unit.

That should scare opposing teams far more than the San Siro bounce, which I doubt I will feel again for some time.

Mark Meadows, Reuters Sports Correspondent, Milan

PHOTO: Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas and Mathieu Flamini celebrate while Milan players console themselves, March. 4 REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo