Arsenal put up a spirited display in their Champions League last-16 second leg but were ultimately eliminated by AC Milan, while Benfica beat Zenit St Petersburg 4-3 on aggregate to advance. At Emirates Stadium, it appeared Arsenal would need a miracle to become the first club to overturn a 4-0 first leg deficit to progress against AC Milan.
Having capitulated 4-0 at the San Siro in the first leg, the Gunners were given next to no chance of making the last eight but stunned their visitors with an irresistible first half display that yielded unanswered goals from Laurent Koscielny, Tomas Rosicky and Robin van Persie with a penalty.
In Lisbon, Benfica’s task against Zenit St Petersburg appeared considerably more achievable after their first leg ended 3-2 in favour of the Russians.
Maxi Pereira set Benfica on their way as he lashed home the opening goal in first-half stoppage time, and substitute Nelson Miguel Castro Oliveira rounded things off late on with a breakaway strike in the third minute of injury time.
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