Arsenal bid farewell to Henry as they suffer heavy defeat to Milan

Arsenal will have to produce a miracle if they are to reach the next round of the Champions League after they were beaten 4-0 by AC Milan in the first leg at the San Siro on Wednesday night. It was an extremely poor performance from the Gunners as they suffered their heaviest European defeat on a pitch which was almost as bad as their performance. Former Spursman Boateng opened the scoring as Robinho scored either side of the break to make it 3-0. Zlatan Ibrahimovic finished the rout with a penalty late on in the game as Arsenal were beaten by a strong Milan side. The night was also made worse as Koscielny limped off with a knee injury. However the very few positives in the game were that Kieran Gibbs returned to the starting lineup after injury, whilst Oxlade-Chamberlain looked threatening when he came off the bench.

There were a few changes made to the side that beat Sunderland at the weekend as Gibbs came in for the injured Mertesacker which meant Vermaelen was able to take up his preferred position at centre half. The impressive teenager Oxlade-Chamberlain was rested as Ramsey came in for him meaning Rosicky played out wide. Meanwhile Thierry Henry bidded farewell to the club for the second time as he played in what would be his last game before he had to return to New York Red Bulls.

Thierry Henry was playing in his last game before returning to New York Red Bulls

The first chance of the game came to Arsenal. Thomas Rosicky got away from van Bommel before cutting inside and hitting a sliced shot wide of the target.

AC Milan's first chance fell to Dutch veteran Clarence Seedorf. Seedorf managed to find Boateng who then layed the ball back to the Dutchman who drove a shot into the side netting.

However just fifteen minutes into the game, Milan were ahead. Szczesny's clearence only went as far as Nocerino who chipped the ball into the path of Boateng who then lashed the ball off the underside of the bar and into the back of the net.

Milan's next chance fell to Nocerino. The ball came out to him on the edge of the area and then he drove a shot which was inches away from Szczesny's crossbar.

Laurent Koscielny then had a rare chance to score as his head met Van Persie's freekick, however the attempt was straight at Abbiati and was comfortably saved.

Seven minutes before the break, Milan went 2-0 up. Ibrahimovic was allowed to race down the left hand side, get to the byline and then pick out Robinho who headed the ball home from close range.

AC Milan were dominating and then Boateng came close to adding to his tally for the night. Ibrahimovic played the ball through the defence and into the Ghanian who got into the penalty area before hitting a shot wide and into the side netting.

The score at half time was 2-0 to AC Milan. Arsenal were to make a change at the break as Walcott was replaced by Thierry Henry

Four minutes into the second half AC Milan got a third. Ibrahimovic was once again the creator as he found Robinho who, thanks to Vermaelen slipping, found space in which to shoot, and find the bottom corner of the goal for his second of the game.

Arsenal were being carved open far too easily as the left back Antonini was allowed to get a shot away after Emanuelson had found him but he dragged his shot wide.

The Gunners then finally managed to create another chance. Song found Henry who flicked the ball into Van Persie who on the volley hit a shot in which Abbiati was forced into making a diving save down to his left hand side.

Vermaelen, who was now playing at left back because Gibbs had been substituted, then found room to pick out a cross and find Van Persie. The skipper tried another shot on the volley, however this time it was a more straight forward save from Abbiati.

Arsenal's night then got worse as Milan were awarded a penalty after Djourou had brought down Ibrahimovic. Ibrahimovic took the penalty and fired the ball past Szczesny to make it 4-0.

Van Persie was the man that was having all the chances for Arsenal as Abbiati then saved another one of the Dutchman's attempts on goal. This time it was a header that the Milan keeper had to deal with.

Alexandre Pato in the dying seconds of the game had a chance to make it five as the ball was played forward into him but Szczesny was able to beat the ball away to make sure Arsenal suffered no more further embarrasment.

The final score finished AC Milan 4-0 Arsenal.

The teams lineups:

AC Milan: Abbiati, Abate, Mexes, Silva, Antonini, van Bommel, Seedorf(12), Nocerino, Boateng(70), Robinho(84), Ibrahimovic.
Subs: Amelia, Nesta, Bonera, Ambrosini(70), Emanuelson(12), Pato(84), El Shaarawi.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny(44), Vermaelen, Gibbs(66), Song, Arteta, Ramsey, Rosicky, Walcott(46), Van Persie.
Subs: Fabianski, Djourou(44), Coquelin, Benayoun, Arshavin, Oxlade-Chamberlain(66), Henry(46).

My man of the match: Thomas Rosicky

Referee: V Kassai (Hungary)
Attendance: 68,257