London, March 7 : English Premier League club Arsenal bowed out of the Champions League after a spirited fight against AC Milan at the Emirates Stadium. Down
0-4 from the first leg, Arsenal won the second leg 3-0 but had to go out 3-4 on the goal aggregate.

Arsenal were staring down the barrel and their Champions League campaign was as good as over when the match began Tuesday. However, Arsene Wenger's boys were in no mood to give up.

The North Londoners came out all guns blazing in the first half and it was centre back Laurent Koscielny who started the rout in the seventh minute with a clinical header.

Milan looked shaky at the back and the Gunners score their second after Theo Walcott's cross half-cleared by defender Thiago Silva fell to Czech Tomas Rosicky who slotted it home.

The Emirates was in full voice as Arsenal continued to press and got their reward when Oxdale Chamberlain was brought down in the box. Dutchman Robin Van Persie, who has been in scintillating form this season, scored his 32nd goal of the season from the spot kick to send the Arsenal faithful into seventh heaven.

Massimiliano Allegri Milan's coach half-time talk must have done the trick as the Italians defended stoutly keeping the Arsenal attackers at bay.

Defender Antonio Nocerino should have put the result beyond any doubt but his tame shot went straight to Pole Wojciech Szczesny in Gunners goal. At the other end, Van Persie, too, had a great opportunity to send the match into extra-time, but he shot straight to goalkeeper Christian Abbiati. Arsenal thus fell agonisinly short of an historic comeback.(IANS)