The Miracle In Monaco wasn’t to be – Arsenal could muster only a 2-0 win at the Stade Louis II as they slipped out of the Champions League on away goals.
As ever with football, it was the hope that killed the Gunners fans, with their team looking for periods like they really might pull it off, but goals from Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey weren’t enough.
Here’s what we learned along the way…
1. Monaco was the place to be
Rock royalty was there…
…as was actual royalty.
2. People still love Emmanuel Petit
Petit was a studio guest for ITV’s coverage and the public at large approved heartily – though nobody seemed to care that much about what he actually had to say.
3. People still love Tony Yeboah
Clive Tyldesley mentioned on commentary that the last time Monaco conceded three at home in Europe – the same thing Arsenal would need to do to progress – it was in 1995, when Yeboah scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 win for Leeds.
4. But they still don’t love Andy Townsend
Don’t worry folks, he’ll be gone in a couple of months.
5. Olivier Giroud sort of redeemed himself
It looked like being a similar story for the Frenchman as the ball just didn’t fall for him in the first 30-odd minutes. But just as his critics were sharpening their knives, he latched on to a rebound when his own shot was blocked and lifted the ball confidently into the roof of the net.
6. Fortune does not favour Danny Welbeck
Welbeck then came agonisingly close as his shot hit a prostrate Aymen Abdennour and squirted wide of goal. Arsenal fans were truly believing now, though.
7. Swapping your shirt at half-time either is or isn’t acceptable
Mesut Ozil was seen swapping shirts at half-time and the commentators, including studio guest Paul Scholes, were not impressed. Arsenal fans saw things differently.
8. Paul Scholes looks weird in a suit
9. If belief won games, Arsenal would have stormed it
You have to give credit to the Arsenal fans – they kept on believing. The #MiracleInMonaco hashtag, which had been trending on Twitter for much of the day, continued to get a good outing, even as the second-half minutes ticked away and the comeback looked ever more unlikely.
10. Aaron Ramsey was almost the one
Ramsey and Walcott were Arsene Wenger’s attacking throw of the dice as the night progressed, and they both contributed – Walcott hit the post, Monaco made a hash of the clearance and Ramsey finished.
The miracle was back on…
11. Nearly everyone was an Arsenal fan for once
Even Richard Osman from Pointless.
12. It’s time to scrap the away goals rule
Ultimately Arsenal fell just short and that meant just one thing – a debate about the away-goals rule. It does seem a little anachronistic but that’s for another day…
Source: SNAPPA