Roma won the match but lost the war. The visitors from London suffered defeat in regular time which put both teams on equal terms at 1-1 aggregate score, transpiring into 30 minutes of extra time and then the Russian roulette – penalty shoot out.

A boisterous, colourful Olympic Stadium in Rome, with the home supporters creating a wall of noise in support for their team. Rome went forward, with the menacing ex-Liverpool left wing John Arne Riise harassing the Arsenal right flank.

Less than 10 minutes into the proceedings and Roma fired home the equaliser, sending the ground alight. Juan was on-target after a spell of disoriented Arsenal defending that bordered on sheer anarchy.

By far, Roma were the better side in the first 30 minutes of the clash, as they had everything, and did everything that should have assured them success: crisp and persistent passing, timed tackling, long spells of possession and menacing surges forward. They closed down the Arsenal defenders and forced them into nervous mistakes.

As an ex-Liverpool player and Kop favourite, Riise was well acquainted with the Arsenal style of play and he did everything he could to tip the scale of the balance. Another run forward by the Norwegian and his trademark cannon shot was blocked.

As regular time finished 1-0 and no goal was scored in the 30 minutes of added time, proceedings went to the dreaded penalties.

Eduardo took the first for Arsenal and Doni saved, putting Arsenal at a disadvantage. Pizarro then scored to give Roma the lead. Van Persie’s converted then Almunia saved easily from Mario Vučinić’s effort to level the business at 2-2.

Walcott just squeezed his shot through Doni’s fingers and Baptista blasted a missile into the net. Samir Nasri’s shot was placed to the keeper’s left and Vincenzo Montella capitalised for 3-3.

With four apiece penalties over, it was now, effectively, sudden death. Denílson converted his penalty firing in the middle, followed by Totti, to complete the first five set.

Kolo Touré scored and then Aquilani responded for 5-5.

Sagna gently tricked the keeper, but then Riise blasted his left-foot drive past Almunia for 6-6. And with Diaby scoring and Tonetto shooting over the bar, Roma were finished, and the misery for Italian football was complete.

Arsène Wenger told the club's website after the match: "We had problems to create clear-cut chances, and that was down to the quality of their defending and resilience. I was apprehensive because you knew that with the final played here on their home ground, that Roma would give everything. I also must congratulate Roma. They played very well tonight and made it very difficult.

"I did not think at all it would go to penalties. Sometimes we do in training, but not the day before. I had my mind made up in the second period of extra time who would take the penalties, and Diaby was one of the players to step up on the pitch."