THERE is no way to gloss over that one, Arsene.
This Arsenal fiasco will never be forgotten, as they said arrivederci to the Champions League.
It would be even sadder if this proves to be the last European match for boss Arsene Wenger.
His gutless flops collapsed without a fight on a night of abject humiliation.
This shambles has brought shame to the Arsenal shirt — and boss Wenger was brave enough to acknowledge it.
Time and again we have heard Wenger speak of the 'spirit', the 'character', the 'guts' and the 'talent' at the Emirates. But there was no evidence of any of that last night for the Gunners.
At least Wenger did not dare tell heartbroken fans the Londoners can still turn this around. They cannot.
Arsenal's weaknesses were laid bare in the most excruciating manner. And now the taboo question regarding the future of Wenger has reared its ugly head just when the issue is least welcome.
Make no mistake, Wenger is to blame. But so is Stan Kroenke, the invisible owner who needs to tell supporters how it has come to this.
This was no fairytale farewell for Thierry Henry. This was a nightmare end to a glorious career for the French hitman.
It could well prove pivotal for the career of the club's legendary manager, too.
A sensational opener from AC Milan's Tottenham reject Kevin-Prince Boateng and a double strike from former Manchester City misfit Robinho buried the visitors.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic made both of Robinho's goals and he added a penalty late on.
The 5,000 visiting fans were the only English heroes when they started singing 'We love you Arsenal, we do' after 57 minutes with their team 3-0 down and showing no signs of revival.
Worse still, this morning Spurs fans will be gloating thanks to Boateng.
Wojciech Szczesny's horrible kick after 15 minutes fell into the path of Antonio Nocerino, who spotted the Prince's run into the box.
Boateng chested the ball down and thumped a jaw-dropping opener in off the underside of the bar.
Home boss Massimiliano Allegri wanted to ensure that Milan did not lose a goal, or the game, yet again against English opposition.
And he insisted on the eve of the match that the Italian giants, who had not beaten an English club in almost five years, did NOT have an inferiority complex.
This was certainly some way for Milan to regain some pride against the English.
Before the game Allegri had tried to muddy the waters by saying Boateng would not start as he had been injured for a month.
But Boateng did indeed start and gave Bacary Sagna one of the worst nights of his life.
After his goal, the Gunners were under incessant pressure.
Ibrahimovic almost stole in as he snatched the ball from Thomas Vermaelen and only Szczesny's heroism spared Arsenal a certain second goal as he dived at the Swede's feet and earned himself a painful foul.
Robinho then stole the ball from Vermaelen and tried to release Ibrahimovic. Mercifully, Laurent Koscielny ran back to intercept. After 38 minutes, though, the stadium erupted.
Urby Emanuelson released Ibrahimovic on the left behind Sagna and he ran 40 yards unhindered into the Arsenal box before crossing for Robinho to nod home.
Szczesny was looking accusingly at Koscielny, who was looking at Sagna. Sixes and sevens indeed.
Incredibly, Arsenal had 55 per cent possession at that stage, even if Milan were the ones getting the chances.
Things went from bad to worse for Wenger as Koscielny then limped off just before the interval and Johan Djourou came on.
When Ibrahimovic turned Djourou and released Boateng with the outside of his right foot, it seemed the match had gone from the Gunners right there. But the Milan man fired just wide.
The Italians finished the first half with nine attempts to Arsenal's two. Thierry Henry came on for the ineffective Theo Walcott after the interval. But it was Milan who extended their lead just four minutes after the restart.
Robinho latched on to Ibrahimovic's simple pass and, as Vermaelen fell over, beat Szczesny just inside his right post.
After 59 minutes, Luca Antonini wasted a sitter as he shot wide with only Szczesny to beat.On 66 minutes, Henry flicked Alex Song's pass into Robin van Persie's path and the Dutchman struck a left-foot beauty that Christian Abbiati turned round for a corner.
The Milan keeper then held on to Van Persie's close-range effort before the killer blow arrived.
With 13 minutes left, Ibrahimovic turned Djourou and was brought down by the Swiss player. Ref Viktor Kassai rightly gave the penalty.
Szczesny went the right way but could not stop the spot-kick from Ibrahimovic going in.
Abbiati next blocked Van Persie's far-post header as Arsenal desperately looked for a consolation and a glimmer of hope — in vain.
For Milan now it is a quarter-final spot.
For Arsenal a long period of recrimination has barely begun.
DREAM TEAM RATINGS
STAR MAN - ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC (AC MILAN)
MILAN: Abbiati 7, Abate 7, Mexes 7, Silva 7, Antonini 7, Nocerino 7, Boateng 9, Seedorf 5, Robinho 9, Ibrahimovic 9. Subs: Emanuelson (Seedorf 12) 6, Ambrosini (Boateng 69) 5, Pato (Robinho 84) 5. Not used: Amelia, Nesta, Bonera, El Shaarawy. Booked: Antonini, Mexes, Ambrosini.
ARSENAL: Szczesny 4, Sagna 3, Vermaelen 4, Koscielny 4, Gibbs 4, Walcott 4, Ramsey 5, Song 5, Arteta 5, Rosicky 5, Van Persie 6. Subs: Djourou (Koscielny 44) 3, Henry (Walcott 46) 6, Oxlade-C'lain (Gibbs 66) 5. Not used: Fabianski, Arshavin, Benayoun, Coquelin. Booked: Song, Djourou.
REF: V Kassai 7
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