Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, left, speaks to the fourth official after Manchester United's English midfielder Michael Carrick is sent off against AC Milan during their UEFA Champions League round of 16 match on February 16, 2010 at San Siro stadium in Milan. Manchester United defeated AC Milan 3-2.PAUL ELLIS
Whether Manchester United and Arsenal qualify for the quarter final of the Champions League after their second leg encounters are completed, the likelihood of either of them winning the title this season is slim.
To win the Champions League itself you cannot have any major area of weakness. With both United and the Gunners exhibiting flaws in key areas, both supporter groups should be restrained in their own expectations and ambitions for their teams.
Starting with Manchester United.
While their result against AC Milan puts them in a relatively comfortable position to advance to the quarter finals the performance in Tuesday's 3-2 victory at the San Siro was not so convincing.
Yes their second half display was better than the miserable first but without Rooney, the win would not have been so assured.
Sir Alex Ferguson who lambasted Johnny Evans in front of a global audience needs to share part of blame for the dismal first half.
Whereas Milan played a 4-3-3 attacking formation Sir Alex decided on a more defensive 4-5-1 with the wide players dropping back.
The decision backfired as it gave Milan too much space to play in and then United failed to get support to Rooney when they themselves had possession.
A tactical switch at half time with the wide players moving higher up to support Rooney paid dividends and indicated that it was not just the 'hairdryer treatment' that made the difference.
Nevertheless Milan caused United too many problems throughout the 90 minutes that cannot be ignored.
Consider the recent lesson Milan received from their neighbours Inter a few weeks back.
Inter Milan, along with Chelsea, Barcelona and possibly Bayern Munich are really part of an elite tier of competition in this year's Champions League, an exclusive class that does not include United and Arsenal.
Bottom line with United is that their performance at the back is too inconsistent to warrant the elite status of a Champion.
Ferguson was right to 'straighten out' Evans but a few words to Ferdinand were warranted also.
In Rafael they have a diamond for the future but at the moment he still needs considerable polishing especially when defending one-versus-one.
Alternatives Gary Neville and Wes Brown speak for the validity that winning the trophy should be considered suspect at best.
Consistency and stability at the back is a staple requirement for trophy lifting and United are unconvincing.
Meanwhile Scholes is a conundrum for Ferguson at this stage of his career.
Still a real asset when in possession in the attacking third he is also a major liability when he is in the defending half of the field.
Then there is Nani and Park who cannot provide the quality as attacking wide players that is essential for the lone striker role of Rooney.
Giggs is better but age is now the factor and Valencia is still a work in progress. Conclusion to all this is clear. No Champions league trophy for United this season.
Looking at Arsenal it is even more definitive.
Starting with goalkeeping, which for Man U is an area of strength; with Arsenal it is their main Achilles heel.
With an average team but a great goalkeeper you can compete to win at a reasonable level.
With a good team and a great goalkeeper you can legitimately win things.
Then in reverse, with a very good team and an average goalkeeper you have no chance of winning.
Lets leave the bad goalkeeper scenario for now.
The main point is that Arsenal do not have a good goalkeeper and therefore they cannot win.
Wednesday night's calamity jane performance by Fabianski was a little frustrating even for the neutral observer because there is still something appealing about the way Arsenal play.
As wide open as ever their attacking play is still impressive and entertaining.
No point hammering away on what is already known to even the parking lot attendants regarding their inability to defend consistently or to be more clinical in finishing off impressive build up play.
The point for Arsenal supporters is that this was a year where winning something was a distinct possibility had Wenger taken care of transfer business in some key areas.
Aside from the goalkeeping position, a centre back of real quality and a short term solution for a centre forward should have been completed.
Not doing so restricts Arsenal to a season that will again be barren of a trophy.