Milan sensed the vulnerability and went for the jugular. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was utterly majestic, all pirate looks and pillaging intent, making two goals for Robinho after Kevin-Prince Boateng had started the rout. Ibrahimovic's performance deserved a goal which duly came with a late penalty. Fourza Milan indeed. Arsenal hardly have a second leg to stand on. Only the wildest optimist at the Emirates will anticipate anything other than a wake on March 6.
The last rites on Arsenal's season could effectively be read shortly after 7pm this Saturday at the Stadium of Light. Arsenal sold out their allocation of 4,200 tickets for the FA Cup tie with Sunderland. The support is impressive, almost lemming-like on Wednesday night's chastening evidence. Almost 5,000 Arsenal fans journeyed to Milan, and as they looked down from the gods, nothing was looking up. Milan were swiftly, devastatingly in their stride, constantly catching Wenger's men on the counter.
Arsenal were made to pay for their wanton disregard of the importance of passing to somebody on the same payroll. Wojciech Szczesny's poor clearance after 15 minutes was seized on by Antonio Nocerino and Arsenal were punished in spectacular style. Nocerino's pass found Boateng, whose finish was special, swept with a half-volley past Szczesny. Arsenal were trailing to a Tottenham Hotspur reject.
Arsenal tried to rally, Robin Van Persie cutting in from the left but the Italians' defence slammed shut like a well-oiled teak door. Still Milan poured forward on the counter. Still Robinho and Ibrahimovic pulled the strings to strangle the English visitors. The pair created a superb chance for the lively Ignazio Abate which Arsenal somehow managed to block. Wenger's men threatened momentarily. Van Persie lifted in a free-kick. Laurent Koscielny met the ball with a flicked header. Christian Abbiati hardly had to move to collect the ball.
Such Arsenal attacks were mere pinpricks to Milan, who added a second goal seven minutes before the interval. Again Arsenal lost the ball, this time Rosicky to Abate. Ibrahimovic darted down the inside-left channel, as Arsenal screamed for offside. The Swede clipped the ball back perfectly for Robinho to place a neat header past Szczesny.
Four minutes into the second half, Milan had one foot in the quarter-finals. Again frailty by Rosicky gifted the ball to Milan.
Again, Ibrahimovic played the catalyst, inviting Robinho to run at the open door of Arsenal's alleged barricades. When Vermaelen slipped, Robinho had all the space required to shoot effortlessly past Szczesny.
Van Persie almost pulled one back but Abbiati saved well. Having brought on Thierry Henry for Walcott at the break, Wenger then removed Kieran Gibbs, shifted Vermaelen to left-back, Alex Song to centre-half and unleashed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain down the right.
It made little difference. The force remained with Milan. Maybe Ibrahimovic felt he had a point to prove to the critical English, having scored only twice in 13 previous games against English opposition, both in a 13-minute purple patch against Arsenal two years ago. Maybe he simply wanted to improve on an average reputation in the knock-out stages of the Champions League.
With 12 minutes remaining, Ibrahimovic had his reward. Robinho sent him into the box and there was Johan Djourou obligingly fouling him.
Henry sought to give Szczesny some advice but Ibrahimovic stayed calm during the delay — and then drilled his penalty in. As the game closed, Arsenal fans paid an emotional farewell to Henry. Their team has probably said ciao to the Champions League as well.
It is not only Arsenal. First Manchester United and Manchester City out of the Champions League, now Arsenal all but out. Europe's elite competition has witnessed the bonfire of the Premier League vanities this season.
All eyes are now on Chelsea, who face a tough assignment against Napoli next week. The Italians have raised their game, the English have gone backwards while Spain's finest, Barcelona and Real Madrid, have accelerated over the horizon. This season has been a wake-up call for the Premier League and an alarm-call for Arsenal
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