Bayern Munich 1 Arsenal 1
Arsenal duly exited the Champions League, drawing some pride in holding the champions of Europe and particularly in the performance of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who again gave notice that he relishes such stellar stages as this.
Just as in the Maracana during last summer's England friendly draw with Brazil, Oxlade-Chamberlain showed he was undaunted by the celebrated setting or opposition. Playing centrally, the 20 year-old ran at Pep Guardiola's vaunted midfield and defence, winning free-kicks and, briefly, lifting hopes.
Yet even with Oxlade-Chamberlain in this vibrant form, Lukasz Fabianski excelling and Lukas Podolski cancelling out Bastian Schweinsteiger's goal, Arsenal inevitably bowed out. Bayern were hardly at their best, barring the excellent Thiago Alcantara, and they missed a penalty through Thomas Muller late on, but the damage was done in the first leg, not least with Mesut Ozil's missed penalty. Not even Oxlade-Chamberlain's stirring example could inspire Arsenal.
There was always the hope, however slim and fading, but Arsenal's grasp of paperwork and maths had almost made the tie redundant before kick-off. Fortunately somebody spotted that Ryo Miyaichi was ineligible, and had been removed from the Uefa list in December, before he took up his place on the bench.
Arsenal had only six subs, with Kim Kallstrom, who had been added to the list, not yet fit enough while the unwanted Nicklas Bendtner was left at home.
The key numbers had been the figures two and zero on the team-sheet, indicating the scale of the task facing Arsenal. Just to add to the sense of slight confusion in the Arsenal ranks, Uefa had to print new team-sheets after the first had Per Mertesacker as captain, not Thomas Vermaelen, the established club captain. It was a night for leaders and Arsenal did not have enough, barring young Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Vermaelen, filling in at left-back for the injured Kieran Gibbs, duly led Arsenal out, and was soon targeted by Arjen Robben.
Vermaelen received little protection from Podolski. Bayern dominated possession from the start. Robben and Franck Ribery were raiding down the flanks, linking with the overlapping Philipp Lahm and the right-sided David Alaba. Arsenal's full-backs, Vermaelen and Bacary Sagna, were under immediate pressure. In the centre, Mario Gotze was flitting about behind Mario Mandzukic, who almost created a breakthrough early on. Thiago was brilliant in the centre.
Bayern can mix up their play, launching the ball long as well as the more considered approach. The Germans suddenly went all Route Von, Manuel Neuer smashing the ball 60 yards upfield for Mandzukic to beat Mertesacker in the air and head back to Schweinsteiger. Bayern's No?31, still returning slowly after injury, advanced into space but his shot failed to trouble Fabianski, who had replaced the suspended Wojciech Szczesny.
The theme of the half was Bayern possession, occasional Arsenal counters and frequent visiting fans' chants about Wembley. Thiago was alongside Schweinsteiger in Bayern's midfield, pushing on and linking with his attackers. He soon found Ribery, whose cross was turned over by -Robben.
From a Thiago free-kick, Javi Martinez volleyed in but was clearly offside. Thiago was almost running the show, making 66 passes in the first half, more than anyone.
Arsenal had their chances. Podolski left Martinez trailing but his cross was cut out by Dante. The imperious Neuer held Santi Cazorla's corner.
Given that Arsenal were chasing two goals, the first half brought disappointing performances from Mesut Ozil on the right and Podolski, who could have been sent off.
Ozil was poor, failing to seize his chance against his compatriots, letting down employers and supporters who pay his huge wages and funded his pounds 42.5?million purchase. Ozil was withdrawn at half-time.
Arsenal diplomatically claimed he had a hamstring injury.
The one bright spark in yellow was Oxlade-Chamberlain, who refused to accept Arsenal's Champions League season was ending here. He showed Ozil how it could be done. Running on to Cazorla's pass, the England international sprinted past Dante, who stretched out his left leg to bring Arsenal's No?15 down. Arsenal failed to profit from the situation, Martinez clearing Cazorla's free-kick, but at least Bayern had been warned that one Arsenal player was not taking the exit for granted.
The most eye-catching moment of the first 45 minutes was a marvellous run from Oxlade-Chamberlain on the half-hour, sprinting in from the left, his pace taking him past three attempted challenges before he was fouled by Schweinsteiger. Arsenal still kept up the pressure. From an Ozil corner moments later, Giroud's header was held comfortably by Neuer.
Arsenal did score through Podolski after 57 minutes but were 3-0 in aggregate arrears by then. Schweinsteiger had struck three minutes earlier, calmly controlling a good pass from Ribery, and placing his shot past Fabianski.
Arsenal's defence was culpable, Sagna being beaten too easily by Ribery and then Mertesacker and Koscielny, models of concentration in the first half, failing to react to
Schweinsteiger's run, although they could point to their midfielders not tracking back with the German.
Arsenal fans were already furious, expressing their anger at Robben's dive when challenged by Cazorla, an act that also incensed the visitors' bench. Soon it was Bayern supporters fans to whistle when Podolski, who never enjoyed the best of relations with Bayern fans when spending three seasons at the club.
Wenger had only just finished berating the Norwegian referee when his side benefited from some generous officiating. Svein Oddvar Moen ignored Podolski's clear push on Lahm.
Podolski did not wait for permission and sprinted on, before thumping the ball past Neuer. His wave of celebration to the Arsenal fans was followed by abuse from Bayern supporters close to the pitch.
Arsenal seemed invigorated, assisted by Wenger's decision to remove the subdued Ozil at the break. His replacement, Tomas Rosicky, was far more influential. Arsenal hunted a second. Oxlade-Chamberlain had a shot held by Neuer, who then showed uncharacteristic uncertainty with some poor clearances.
Fabianski was the keeper impressing more, the Pole somehow denying Mandzukic.
Oxlade-Chamberlain appeared to pick up a slight injury, but he kept going until seven minutes from time when replaced by Mathieu Flamini. Bayern should have won it during injury time. After Koscielny fouled Robben, Muller placed his penalty too close to Fabianski.
As the final whistle blew, Arsenal were left to reflect on what might have happened had Ozil converted his spot kick at the Emirates.