Gunners mauled in Milan (From Bridgwater Mercury)

Gunners mauled in Milan

9:43pm Wednesday 15th February 2012 in National Sport © Press Association 2011

Arsenal's Champions League dreams were shattered by a humiliating 4-0 defeat to AC Milan in the first leg of their last 16 clash at the San Siro.

Kevin-Prince Boateng fired the Italians ahead on 15 minutes with a sublime strike, before two goals by former Manchester City frontman Robinho and a penalty from the impressive Zlatan Ibrahimovic put the tie beyond the Gunners.

Arsenal never really settled and were punished for some careless possession - and not even the introduction of former captain Thierry Henry in the final game of his loan spell from New York Red Bulls could spark a fairytale comeback.

The heaviest European away defeat for Arsenal will be a bitter pill to swallow, but Arsene Wenger must lift his squad for what is now a crucial FA Cup fifth-round tie at Sunderland on Saturday ahead of the Premier League derby with Tottenham - when the Gunners will look to keep alive hopes of qualifying again for the Champions League with a top-four finish.

Boateng fired the Italians ahead on the quarter-hour mark. The former Portsmouth and Tottenham midfielder collected a chip to the edge of the Arsenal penalty area on his chest, before turning to fire the ball over Wojciech Szczesny and in off the underside of the crossbar.

Robin van Persie's cut-back was then blocked as the Gunners captain got clear down the left, before Laurent Koscielny's flicked header from a floated 25th minute free-kick was straight at Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati.

But it was 2-0 in the 38th minute when Ibrahimovic charged down the left channel and squared for Robinho to nod in from six yards.

Two minutes before the break, Koscielny hobbled off and was replaced by Johan Djourou - and another change followed at the start of the second half as Theo Walcott was replaced by Henry. However, before the World Cup winner had a chance to make an impact, Milan extended their lead.

Thomas Vermaelen slipped, which gave Robinho the space to shoot at the edge of the box, and the Brazilian - whose £32.5million transfer to City in 2008 shattered the British record fee - slammed home what looked to be a tie-clinching third goal in the 49th minute.

Abbiati produced a brilliant one-handed save to turn around Van Persie's volley after a flick-on by Henry on 65 minutes. However, Djourou subsequently bundled over Ibrahimovic to concede a somewhat soft penalty, which the big Swede slotted into the bottom right corner, leaving Arsenal a mountain to climb in the return leg at Emirates Stadium on March 6.