Kaka - Gunners deserved win

Brazilian pays tribute to Arsenal

By Lewis Rutledge   Last updated: 5th March 2008

Football Champions League AC Milan Arsenal Kaka

Kaka: Praise for Arsenal

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Kaka has hailed Arsenal as worthy winners following Milan's exit from the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.

After a goalless first leg at Emirates Stadium, The Gunners produced an impressive performance to triumph 2-0 in Italy.

The goals came in the final ten minutes through Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor, but Brazilian playmaker Kaka was impressed by Arsene Wenger's side throughout.

"Arsenal played really well, better than us," he said. "We have struggled up front and we have not been good enough to get a better result.

"To have gone out of the competition like this is a tough blow. I guess the next few days will be difficult because the Champions League was our main aim.

"Now our aim is to finish fourth in the Serie A standings in order to qualify for the Champions League next season. We must bounce back together in order to overcome this."

No drama

Milan are currently fifth in Serie A and 18 points behind City rivals Internazionale, but vice president Adriano Galliani was staying positive in defeat.

He said: "Arsenal played better in both legs and deserved to go through. They have good midfielders and a great striker in Adebayor and we had many players injured or not completely fit.

"Now we have to aim towards returning to the Champions League but we have won two cups this year and we are the most successful team in the world.

"This is the group we have, this is the coach we have and nothing changes.

"We have been unlucky to have met Arsenal in the last 16.

"This is not the end of an era and nothing has finished. This summer we will change certain players but right now we will think about Serie A. There is no drama."