Arsenal oust AC Milan to reach Europa League quarter-finals
Borussia Dortmund knocked out by Red Bull Salzburg
Arsenal have booked themselves a place in the quarter-finals of the Europa League courtesy of a 3-1 second-leg victory over AC Milan in the last 16 at the Emirates Stadium yesterday evening.
The home side were caught on the back foot early on when Fabio Borini broke down the right flank before cutting a pass back for Andre Silva, but the Portuguese frontman could only fire his effort into the side netting from close range.
Arsenal soon grew into the contest and they began to play with authority in the middle, as the ball was switched out into the path of Nacho Monreal, who saw his cross cleared in the box by Riccardo Montolivo with Welbeck lurking.
Milan offered little going forward but they found themselves with a lead against the run of play, when the hosts dropped off Calhanoglu, allowing the midfielder to unleash a standout finish from range beyond David Ospina, who was perhaps found wanting in the Arsenal goal.
Wenger’s men hit back almost instantly, though, albeit in what turned out to be controversial circumstances. Welbeck broke free inside the area to collect a through-ball from Henrikh Mkhitaryan, before going down rather easily under pressure from Ricardo Rodriguez.
Replays suggested that there was minimal, if any, contact on the Arsenal forward but the officials still decided to hand the penalty to the hosts, which saw Welbeck return to send Donnarumma the wrong way and bring the Gunners back level.
The penalty inspired Arsenal to push for the lead just before half time and they almost found it, although Donnarumma was again on hand to turn away a vicious strike from Jack Wilshere on the edge of the visiting box.
Requiring another two goals to earn progression, Milan might have made things a little more competitive had Patrick Cutrone proved more clinical, but he could only send Silva’s cross wide on the volley with 30 minutes to play.
The killer goal was to arrive just minutes later too as Arsenal took the lead in the 71st minute through Xhaka, whose shot from distance profited from some slack goalkeeping as the ball somehow squeezed beyond Donnarumma despite the keeping getting two hands to the shot.
The Gunners continued to impose their dominance in the closing stages and they were able to make it 3-1 with just a few minute remaining, as Welbeck profited from a loose ball in the box to head past Donnarumma, after Ramsey’s initial effort had been blocked.
The German giants Borussia Dortmund were unable to find the breakthrough in a goalless draw at Red Bull Salzburg, whose 2-1 first-leg win saw the Austrians reach the quarter-finals of the competition.
Dortmund’s Bundesliga rivals RB Leipzig managed to progress to the next round, however, thanks to a 1-1 draw at Zenit St Petersburg which proved enough to proceed 3-2 on aggregate.