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Arsenal advances to Europa League quarter-finals at Milan's expense

Nigel French - PA Images / PA Images / Getty

Arsenal is off to the quarter-finals of a European competition for the first time since 2009-10 after topping AC Milan 5-1 on aggregate in the Europa League round of 16.

The Gunners beat Milan 3-1 Thursday at the Emirates Stadium in a clash rife with talking points and controversy after winning the first leg in Italy 2-0.

Hakan Calhanoglu gave the visiting Rossoneri the lead in the 35th minute courtesy of a dazzling curling effort that beat David Ospina at the far post before Danny Welbeck levelled from the penalty spot four minutes later.

Replays showed Ricardo Rodriguez made little to no contact on the foul that prompted match official Jonas Eriksson to consult with the fourth official. It was Welbeck's first goal in European competition since he netted a Champions League hat-trick against Galatasaray in 2014.

After Milan's underwhelming performance in the first leg, Gennaro Gattuso's team was the better side Thursday in north London, routinely threatening Ospina's goal with a series of attacks, and will feel aggrieved after a positive start to the second stanza, especially after Granit Xhaka made it 2-1 courtesy of a speculative effort that Gianluigi Donnarumma fumbled before it trickled into the net.

Welbeck would complete his brace in the 86th minute when an Aaron Ramsey header was parried by Donnarumma directly into the England international's path, who calmly headed it beyond the teenage shot-stopper.

The last time Arsenal progressed this far on the continent was in 2009-10, when the Gunners bowed out of the Champions League last eight at the hands of Barcelona.

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