Milan’s Champions League victories over Bayern Munich and Manchester United have demonstrated areas where Arsenal have fallen short during this campaign, and they are areas that should be addressed in the summer.

Milan played a 4-4-1-1 formation, in contrast to the 4-5-1 or sometimes 4-4-2 that Arsenal have employed in Europe over the last two campaigns. Granted, the Italians have done no more than Arsenal achieved last season, but it should not be forgotten that last night saw the culmination of their fourth semi-final in five years, so there is something to be said for their consistency. And unlike Chelsea, Milan have won the majority of those semis.

When Arsenal made the final last year in Paris, the defensive line-up was consistent and developed an understanding. Only when it was broken up due to injuries to Flamini and Senderos did it start to look more fallible. Milan have been forced to chop and change a bit, and in truth, their defensive record has not actually been particularly good, despite plenty of experience. In this sense, there is nothing to learn from Milan’s back four, and yet when it mattered, their midfield worked very hard and were highly disciplined (in the second legs) to ensure the required result. Clean sheets were recorded. The battling of Gattuso obviously caught the eye, whilst the work of Pirlo, Ambosini and Seedorf cannot be underestimated.

Last season, Arsenal’s midfield did work hard in the Champions League, but have fallen well short this time around. The discipline has been lacking and possession has been given away too cheaply too often. 2005/06 saw Gilberto, Fabregas, Hleb and two of Pires/Ljungberg/Reyes line up behind Henry. Three potential battlers out of five, in contrast to Milan’s four out of four. And yet it worked, with even Bobby Pires getting stuck in once or twice. This season, Gilberto and Fabregas were joined by Hleb and Rosicky in a 4-4-2 away at PSV. Rosicky can make a tackle, but it was too lightweight a quartet, especially with Hleb suffering such a dip in form. The 4-4-2 was persisted with for the return leg, but with the strange decision to move Gilberto into central defence and Toure to right back, leaving a central pairing of Denilson and Fabregas. Hleb and Ljungberg made up the central quartet whilst Baptista replaced the unfit Henry next to Adebayor.

The consistency of selection was gone. In 2005/06, the only changes seen were the decision of which two from Freddie, Pires and Jose would start. Yes, injuries this term played a part, but Arsene made it worse by taking key players out of position. Swap like for like and at least there would seem to be a better chance. Additionally, the loss of form proved critical. Arsenal built up a momentum of sorts in the Premiership once they had been dumped out of the domestic cups last season, which helped in Europe. Not so this.

Milan got by through a mixture of experience and understanding, but ultimately, the ability of their midfield to score goals proved critical. Pirlo, Seedorf and Kaka (half midfielder/half forward) all scored during the knockout phase – Kaka being the leading scorer in the whole competition. Arsenal’s sole strike after the group phase was an own goal. The irony of this is that if you look at the aggregate scores against Bayern (4-2) and Manchester United (5-3), compared with Arsenal’s last season, you’d suggest that they had been mixed up. Arsenal should be the ones seeing plenty of goals at both ends with the Italians more cagey.

The conclusion? Last season was a one-off. Arsenal cannot realistically hope to repeat this, given the way Wenger sets his teams out to play. So goals will be conceded, as Milan’s defence found, but more have to fly in at the other end. This is where the Gunners have fallen short in 2006/07. Henry injured – fine. Milan lost Shevchenko and have got by with Inzaghi and Gilardino – neither enjoying the form of their lives. But every one of their midfield works like a Trojan and the man in between the lone striker and that quartet has goals aplenty in him. If Julio Baptista is best at scoring goals from deep, then in theory, he should have been Arsenal’s Kaka against PSV at Ashburton Grove. In fact, he was just cack.

Kaka’s performances this season have pointed out how hugely Arsenal were affected in this tournament over the years by Dennis Bergkamp’s refusal to fly. He was the player for this potentially devastating position for so long.

If Wenger decided to change tack over the summer, he should think of buying a greedy goal-obsessed centre-forward, try Thierry Henry in the Kaka/Bergkamp role and opt for a solid quartet behind and stick with them. Use substitutions if required, but leave Hleb on the bench until he regains form and confidence through coming on for 20 minutes at the end. If Ribery comes in – then Ribery – Gilberto – Fabregas – Rosicky could work – if the two R’s are prepared to work for their full backs. I have concluded that the defence is always likely to concede goals and probably always have done. Arsenal are not George Graham’s creature anymore (the legacy that was his defence now all retired) and runs without conceding goals are more of a fluke than anything. Success has largely come through outscoring the opposition than playing a tighter game.

If Arsenal had more of a cutting edge, this season could have been very different indeed. Very different. Wenger’s task this summer is to address the issue of why the chances have not been going in. It has happened too often for it to be bad luck. Milan have shown against Bayern and Manchester United the value of being clinical. It is a lesson from which Arsenal must learn if they are ever to win the cup with the big ears.