Arsenal vs. AC Milan: Magical Night Ends in Ultimate Disappointment for Gunners

A magical start by Arsenal at the Emirates failed to yield shocking results as the Gunners have been sent off from the UEFA Champions League by AC Milan. 

Arsenal came away from their second leg against AC Milan with a spirited drubbing of the Italians, 3-0. They left the pitch with low-hanging heads because they are still paying for past sins. 

The Gunners nearly pulled off a tremendous come-from-behind draw on aggregate, but instead left the Champions League as they failed to find the elusive equalizer late. 

I think I can tip my hat to Arsenal on behalf of football fans everywhere. Coming into Tuesday night, the chances for Arsene Wenger's boys to move on rested somewhere between slim and none. Many had them far closer to none. 

That is until a spirited and striker-heavy side inflicted some damage into an overconfident Italian side. The key was to score early, and they certainly did that with a Laurent Koscielny goal in the seventh minute. 

Such a goal was cute and all, but it hardly served to put Milan, a team with a mammoth advantage in aggregate, back on their heels. 

That is when the Gunners exploded for two more goals before the half—Tomas Rosicky in the 26th minute and Robin van Persie in the 43rd on a penalty kick. 

You had to believe that fate was on Arsenal's side in that moment. Milan had a couple of chances that could have easily found the net, but instead some mystical force seemed to inflict the usually prolific side with stagnant efforts. 

Milan shot 13 times and five were on goal, yet they were sent off without any success, but not that any of that matters. 

The only number we have to care about is 4-3, the aggregate score that sends AC Milan to the next round and leaves Arsenal to lick their wounds with domestic victories. 

Wenger threw everything he had at Milan, and his aggressiveness may have some lasting repercussions. Theo Walcott left the pitch visibly banged up. 

In the end, it was a tale of two halves, and Arsenal didn't have the legs to duplicate a brilliant and magical first half. 

They began to play like they had something to lose, and that is when the air left a raucous Emirates Stadium. 

The game was far more engaging than we presumed it would be, but that is hardly of any note to Wenger's side. Despite an amazing start, Arsenal still receive the result we assumed they would, and are leaving the Champions League empty-handed. 

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