AC Milan 4 - 0 Arsenal: Gunners Champions League dreams all but over

Arsenal’s Champions League dreams were shattered by a humiliating 4-0 defeat at the hands of AC Milan in the first leg of their last 16 clash at the San Siro last night.

Kevin-Prince Boateng fired the Italians ahead on 15 minutes with a sublime strike, before two goals by former Manchester City frontman Robinho and a penalty from the impressive Zlatan Ibrahimovic put the tie beyond the Gunners. Arsenal never really settled and were punished for some careless possession – and not even the introduction of former captain Thierry Henry in the final game of his loan spell from New York Red Bulls could spark a fairytale comeback in what was a record European away defeat for the Londoners.

Milan had not won any of their previous seven matches against English clubs, knocked out of the Champions League at this stage by Tottenham last season. However, the Serie A leaders never looked in danger of a repeat last night, well organised from kick-off as Arsenal struggled to get any sort of foothold, regardless of a poor San Siro pitch which had recently seen the turf relaid down the flanks.

Veteran Dutchman Clarence Seedorf – a European Cup winner with three different clubs – drilled a low effort into the side-netting, before going off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. Compatriot Urby Emanuelson replaced him.

Boateng fired the Italians ahead on the quarter-hour mark. The midfielder collected a chip to the edge of the Arsenal penalty area on his chest, before turning to fire the ball over Wojciech Szczesny and in off the underside of the crossbar.

Van Persie’s cut-back was blocked as the Gunners captain got clear down the left, before Laurent Koscielny’s flicked header from a floated 25th minute free-kick was straight at Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati.

It was 2-0 in the 38th minute when Ibrahimovic charged down the left channel and squared for Robinho to nod in from six yards. Two minutes before the break, Koscielny hobbled off and was replaced by Johan Djourou – and another change followed at the start of the second half as Theo Walcott was replaced by Henry.

However, before the World Cup winner had a chance to make an impact, Milan extended their lead. Thomas Vermaelen slipped, which gave Robinho the space to shoot at the edge of the box, and the Brazilian slammed home what looked to be a tie-clinching third goal in the 49th minute. It was now a case of damage limitation for Arsenal – and it could have been worse but for a complete miskick by Luca Antonini when he was set free following another swift counter. The value of an away goal, however, meant the tie would still be alive were the English side to fashion a meaningful opportunity of their own. Abbiati produced a brilliant one-handed save to turn around Robin van Persie’s volley after a flick-on by Henry on 65 minutes.

However, any hopes of comeback were ended in the 78th minute when Djourou bundled over Ibrahimovic to concede a somewhat soft penalty, which the big Swede slotted into the bottom right corner, leaving Arsenal a mountain to climb in the return leg at Emirates Stadium on 6 March.

AC Milan: Abbiati, Mexes, Thiago Silva, Van Bommel, Seedorf (Emanuelson), Abate, Nocerino, Boateng (Ambrosini), Antonini, Ibrahimovic, Robinho (Pato). Subs not used: Amelia, Nesta, Bonera, El Shaarawy.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny (Djourou), Gibbs (Oxlade-Chamberlain), Rosicky, Arteta, Walcott (Henry), Ramsey, Song, Van Persie. Subs not used: Fabianski, Arshavin, Benayoun, Coquelin,