Young Gunners seal San Siro success

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had talked up his young side as having all the qualities needed to progress against the odds, and so it proved as Milan were out battled for most of the encounter.

A famous victory was delivered when Spain international Fabregas smashed in a brilliant 25-yard strike with just six minutes left and Emmanuel Adebayor added a second in stoppage time.

After seven minutes, Alex Hleb found himself in space at the edge of the penalty area but crashed his drive well over, and it was the hosts who almost snatched an early lead, when a corner from the left was flicked on at the near post by Paolo Maldini - and it needed a goal-line clearance from Fabregas to keep the ball out.

After 13 minutes, Arsenal broke quickly as Adebayor latched onto a long pass from Fabregas. The Togo frontman held the ball up and laid it off to the advancing Abou Diaby, but his placed shot from 20 yards was just over the top-right angle.

Arsenal did well to keep possession, which frustrated the home crowd heading into the break, and had another golden chance to net that crucial away goal after the restart.

A cross from the left found its way through to Philippe Senderos at the back post - but the defender's effort was hit straight at goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac.

After 50 minutes, Emmanuel Eboue was played in on the overlap down the right side of the Milan penalty area, but blasted his angled drive wide. Then goalkeeper Manuel Almunia had to be alert to turn away a 25-yard free-kick from Andrea Pirlo at full stretch, as the ball looked to be sneaking into the bottom right corner.

And after 84 minutes Fabregas won it with a superb solo goal. The Spain midfielder picked up the ball, sidestepped Gennaro Gattuso and drilled a 25-yard strike into the bottom right corner.

Adebayor scored a second in added time, following a fine run and low cross from substitute Theo Walcott along the goal-line, to cap a magnificent night for the Gunners.