Olivier Giroud’s 15th goal of the season for the Gunners, following Theo Walcott’s cross, gave them a dream start
Browsing: UEFA Champions League
The Gunners file out at the Allianz Arena trailing 1-3 from the home leg, knowing that no team have ever overturned a two-goal deficit in the competition, let alone the three away goals that the German side have
AC Milan had won the first leg 2-0
The Jose Mourinho-led side came back from a goal down to progress at the expense of the Red Devils.
That Ronaldo will lead the assault against his former team, Manchester United, makes this fixture an interesting one
The three successful sides will join Porto, Paris St Germain, Schalke, Arsenal, Malaga, AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk, Valencia, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Manchester United in the draw for the Round of 16
Manchester City are out of the Champions League at the group stage for the second successive season after they were held to a draw by Real Madrid at the Etihad just as Arsenal moved to the next stage after a convincing win at the Emirates over Montpellier
Win for the likes of FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United will confirm their passage to the next stage, with anything short of an outright win for the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea could spell doom
Arsenal’s limitations were exposed by an impressive Schalke 04 as they slumped to defeat at Emirates Stadium
The defeat, Roberto Di Matteo’s first in the Champions League, means English teams have now failed to win in Donetsk in four attempts and leaves Chelsea with a less than straightforward path to the last 16
While it comes as no shock to see the likes of Porto, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United with 100 per cent records at this stage of the proceedings, the appearance on the list of Malaga and BATE Borisov is less expected, even if surprises are becoming more the norm in Europe’s premier club competition