Monaco, March 18 (IANS): Arsene Wenger's Arsenal claimed a 2-0 victory at Monaco but still crashed out of the Champions League on away goals with a 3-3 aggregate result.
It was the fifth straight season for the Premier League side to miss the quarterfinals. Ligue 1 runners-up Monaco clinched a 3-1 win on February 25 in London with the 'Gunners' having conceded the third goal unnecessarily, reports Xinhua.
In Tuesday's second leg, Arsenal started slow with the hosts looking more urgent. Olivier Giroud, who headed a difficult chance wide in the 14th minute, ran on to a Danny Welbeck through ball in the 36th minute and his first shot was saved before the French international smashed the rebound into the top of the net.
In the 79th minute, midfielder Aaron Ramsey scored the second for Arsenal after Theo Walcott hit the post and a loose ball from the rival defenders found the youngster.
Giroud could have given the visitors a life-line shortly after but his header was incredibly clawed off the line.
With Arsenal players lumping the ball into the Monaco penalty box, a route having been well defended all game, the visitors failed to use the remaining 10 minutes and the five-minute stoppage, constructively.
Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker admitted the better team over two legs went through.
"Monaco deserved it because they played much better in the first leg. We played well today but it was a massive deficit and it wasn't enough tonight," he said.