Gallant Arsenal Comes Short Against Milan Bows Out 3-4: UEFA Champions League

Arsene Wenger and his Arsenal team last night crashed out of the European Champions League, the only remaining competition they have an outside chance of winning a silverware this season.

But it was a gallant performance on the night as the team came within a goal of recording the greatest comebacks in European Club competition history.

The Gunners needed to score at least four times to have a hope of remaining in the competition after collapsing to a 4-0 first leg defeat at the San Siro couple of weeks ago.

Coach Wenger demanded belief and high attacking play from his players, and they really lived up to their manager’s billing.

Seven minutes into the encounter, Laurent Kolscieny scored the first goal to signal a possible comeback.

Two other goals from Tomas Rosicky and captain Robin Van Persie reduced Arsenal’s arrears to only one goal in the first half.

However, the expectation of a total comeback was not to be as AC Milan regrouped in the second half to keep Arsenal at bay and progressed to the quarter finals on 4-3 aggregate.

Arsenal may have been guilty of removing their legs from the gas-pedal in the second half as they took things easier. But the players cannot be blamed for lack of effort and bravery in the game nobody gave them a chance to making it a contest.

In the night’s other match, Benfica beat Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg 2-0 to advance to the quarter finals on 4-3 aggregate, having lost the first  leg 2-3.

Barca midfielder, Xavi in action for his club