Arsenal 3-0 AC Milan: 5 Things Learned from the Near Epic Comeback

Arsenal almost pulled off the incredible by scoring three goals in the second leg of their Champions League tie against AC Milan. But the four-goal deficit they faced coming in to the Emirates was too much, as they were eliminated on aggregate 4-3.

Laurent Koscielny got Arsenal started when he headed home the first goal in the seventh minute to give the Gunners hope.

Thomas Rosicky gave the home side more hope in the 26th minute. A misplaced clearance by a Milan defender found the midfielder on the top of the box. A calm finish to the bottom left corner made it 2-0.

Just before the half, Robin van Persie scored yet another goal in what has been a career campaign for the Dutchman. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was taken down in the box and correctly awarded a penalty. Van Persie powered it into the top corner to make it an all-Arsenal first half.

The second was more of the same, with both Arsenal and Milan coming close on opportunities.

Van Persie would have the best chance to bring the Gunners level on aggregate, but the in-form striker missed a sitter with Milan keeper Christian Abbiati at his best to keep the match in favor of the Italians.

Here are five things learned from the near epic comeback.

Arsenal Is Exciting to Watch as Anyone

Forget what you think about them as a team or the managerial decisions of Arsene Wenger; Arsenal is one of the game's most exciting teams to watch.

We have been captivated for the past few years by the intricate passing patterns of Barcelona and the rhythmic play of Real Madrid being the criteria for exciting football, but they are not to be outmatched by the Gunners.

Van Persie and Co. are a group of young, virile and enthusiastic players who go out there with an energy unmatched by any other. Their speed up and down the field is enthralling, and their play, thought erratic at times, can become a thing of beauty.

At the same time, though, that erraticsim makes it all the more enjoyable of a spectacle to watch.

Whether it keeps you on the edge of your seat as a fan or critics use it as ammunition, it is enthralling ball that captivates everyone.

Alexandre Song Is One of the Game's Most Underrated Players

Unfortunately for Song, most are going to remember him from this game as being the one who screwed up Arsenal’s last chance at a tying goal. His run through the midfield with players all around was wasted, as he went for the kill shot rather than playing it safe.

However, fans watching the entirety of the game would know that that one moment was a fluke in an otherwise perfect match.

Milan rarely looked in threat of scoring for the first half and much of the second, up until Arsenal really had to risk it and push forward. That impotence of the Milan attack had all to do with Song’s defense in the midfield.

He was a wall there, separating Zlatan Ibrahimovich from the rest of his team, making arguably one of the game’s best strikers look bland and ineffective.

He intercepted multiple balls and began the attack in the other direction, constantly keeping Milan on their heels and allowing the Arsenal speedsters to get a head of steam.

Arsenal fans have been arguing all season for his greatness, but today's match will qualify it for him as the world watches.

Even the Best Can Miss

For all the excellent and brilliance van Persie has done this year, he will be looking back on a career year and wondering how he didn’t score a sitter in front of the Milan net.

It could have been his easiest goal of the season, and clearly, the most important of his career if he decided to go for power rather than attempt a cheeky chip.

Granted, it was an excellent save by Abiatti, but you would expect the clear Golden Boot winner of the EPL to do better with such an opportunity.

Ultimately, it cost Arsenal a chance to progress to the quarterfinals of Europe’s best competition and just goes to prove that nothing is a gimme, even for the very best.

4 Goals Is Too Much for Anyone to Make Up

Let’s just put this game in perspective. Arsenal was given a chance when Koscielny scored the first off a dead-ball situation. Poor passing by Milan gave them their second and third.

On the other end, Ibrahimovich could not take advantage of a poor pass by Wojciech Szczesny, and Milan would miss a tap even easier than van Persie’s.

This was a game tailor-made for Arsenal to pull off a historic comeback.

But in the end, four goals was just too big of a difference to make up. With all things going the Gunners' way, they were unable to come up with the deciding piece that would make it all worth their while.

Milan was nothing short of dreadful tonight and don’t look like a team that should be in the quarters, but they rode their huge lead they built up in Milan to the next round, and no one can fault them for that.

Arsenal Is Currently the Best Team in England

Coming out of Europe for a moment, we have to all a have a serious look at the current state of Arsenal. The Gunners are not going to win the league. They may not even win a trophy (again). But it is hard to argue that over the past two weeks, there has been a better team in the country.

Between the play up front of van Persie and the uncanny nature to have a new player step up every game to be the hero, there seems to be a little momentum gaining ground at the Emirates.

Sure, they are flawed in more ways than one, but they have hid those flaws recently by outplaying, outlasting and simply bettering every team they face by the end of the 90 minutes.

I am not a Gunners fan by day, but as a fan of the game, I can’t help but appreciate what they are doing.

What Did You Learn?

It was almost a match for the record books, as Arsenal seemed destined to get that fourth goal and one more to book a place in the quarterfinals. But in the end, the odds were too great for Wenger and his boys of North London.

What did you learn from the match?

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