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Danny Welbeck earned a cheap penalty in the first half against Milan
As it was, Danny Welbeck only rescued the Gunners from the brink of disaster by falling over. Sadly, that is the modern way.
The controversial penalty award in the 39th minute stopped Milan in their tracks no sooner had they got their tail up. Slowly they lost their way and a late goalkeeping catastrophe gifted Granit Xhaka the winning goal on the night.
It meant a rather inglorious European night rather than a glorious one, but right now Wenger will just be happy to be in that Europa League hat and now just five games away from a return to the Champions League.
It would be gratifying for Wenger to think that the swathes of empty seats which had stared down on him from the upper tiers of the Emirates in recent weeks had been filled by supporters returning to the cause.
One wonders, though, if the inflated attendance for last night’s game had been drawn more by the promise of some car-crash viewing.
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Milan players protest against the penalty
Surely, after Arsenal had won so surprisingly heroically in the San Siro a week ago, even they could not mess it up? All it called for was some experienced heads.
Eleven minutes in, skipper Laurent Koscielny limped off after getting a knee in the back from a corner and Calum Chambers, currently struggling for form even in his preferred position at right-back, replaced him. What could possibly go wrong?
As it was, for once, to a man Arsenal were trying to turn in a disciplined performance but you just knew it could not last long. 36 minutes, to be precise.
Hector Bellerin tracked his runner, leaving Mesut Ozil to tuck back in to pick up Hakan Calhanoglu. As if that was going to happen.
Then, when the Milan playmaker picked up the ball inevitably in space, Chambers backed away instead of closing him down, a mistake beautifully outlined to him by Shkodran Mustafi moments later as David Ospina picked the ball out of the back of the net.
The mood at the Emirates chilled. They may have come here half-expecting something similar, but actually watching it play out in front of their eyes sent a shiver down the collective spine of the fans.
No matter – it was not their loyal support that Arsenal would be calling upon to be their 12th man. It was Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson and his assistant.
Ricardo Rodriguez probably did brush against Welbeck as he poked the ball far too firmly over the goal-line but only just. Certainly not enough to knock him to the ground, though.
Down the England striker went, nevertheless, and after a brief word over the earpiece, Eriksson pointed to the spot. A longer conversation involving half the Milan team ensued, but Welbeck kept his nerve and slotted the ball into the corner to the relief of the home fans.
A spate of further bookings before the break suggested the Italians had become rattled – the best thing for Arsenal – never more so when the ball clearly struck the raised arm of Chambers in the area and Eriksson signalled for a corner.
Milan boss Gennaro Gattuso, provided he could control his own emotions himself, would need to tell his players to calm down during the interval.
The combative 2006 World Cup winner’s mood would not have been helped when Suso was booked for simulation on the hour mark – a correct call, as it happened, but a brave one by the Swedish official. Minutes later he threw the ball somewhat pointedly at Nacho Monreal’s head, rather than to him, before apologising sheepishly.
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Danny Welbeck scored his second late on
Former Blackburn striker Nikola Kalinic directed a clear header straight at Ospina minutes after coming on – either side could have meant a very different finale.
As it was, minutes later Gianluigi Donnarumma somehow allowed Xhaka’s speculative drive from 25 yards slither under him.
Welbeck then nodded home with two minutes of normal time remaining after a scrap in front of goal.
It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t convincing. But it was more than enough.
ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Ospina; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny (Chambers 11), Monreal; Ramsey, Xhaka; Ozil, Wilshere, Mkhitaryan; Welbeck. Booked: Monreal. Goal: Welbeck 39pen.
AC MILAN (4-4-2): Donnarumma; Borini, Bonucci, Romagnoli, Rodriguez; Suso, Kessie, Calhanoglu, Montolivo; Silva, Cutrone. Booked: Donnarumma, Romagnoli, Calhanoglu, Suso. Borini. Goal: Calhanoglu 35.
Referee: J Eriksson (Sweden).