Danny Welbeck’s brace powered Arsenal into the quarterfinals of the Europa League after the Gunners humbled AC Milan 3-1 in their round of 16 game at home. Incidentally, Welbeck’s double strike came on the day when he was recalled to the England squad.
Arsenal, who took a 2-0 win from the first leg in the San Siro, suffered a jolt as Hakan Calhanoglu gave a 35th minute lead to the Italian giants.
But the home side scored a quick equalizer from a controversially awarded penalty as Welbeck went down under minimal contact from Ricardo Rodriguez before getting up and scoring from the spot.
Disappointed Borussia Dortmund players after the final whistle against RB Salzburg. /VCG photo
Disappointed Borussia Dortmund players after the final whistle against RB Salzburg. /VCG photo
Much to the delight of the partisan crowd at the Emirates Stadium, Milan keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma allowed a Granit Xhaka long-range attempt to sneak in and give a 2-1 lead to the hosts. Later, Welbeck scored with a close-range header to seal the game for his side and also a berth in the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, in the biggest upset of Thursday night, Germany’s Borussia Dortmund was eliminated from the Europa League after a goalless draw in Austria meant RB Salzburg won their quarterfinal tie 2-1 on aggregate.
Dortmund came close through Michy Batshuayi and Marcel Schmelzer but needed to score twice to go through. No Austrian side had reached the last eight of the Europa League before.
Arsenal players celebrate after one of the Welbeck goals against AC Milan. /VCG photo
Arsenal players celebrate after one of the Welbeck goals against AC Milan. /VCG photo
Elsewhere, CSKA Moscow thwarted a valiant second-half comeback from Lyon to advance while Lazio and Marseille followed suit. Two-time winners Atletico Madrid built on their first-leg victory over Lokomotiv Moscow with a 5-1 win on the road to sail into the last eight as well.