Two goals by Marc Overmars and another from Davor Suker at least enabled Arsenal to finish their latest failed Champions League adventure on a winning note in Stockholm.
The Dutchman struck in the 16th minute and then added a second after 52 to regain the lead for the Gunners following an equaliser in the closing stages of the first half by AIK Solna's former Newcastle striker Andreas Andersson.
Andersson hit a second for the Swedes but Suker had already ensured Arsenal finished the campaign with an unbeaten away record, slotting in Kwankwo Kanu's cross after 56 minutes.
The Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, had insisted it was an important match to win despite the fact that neither side could qualify for the second round. But he fielded a team without Tony Adams, Martin Keown, Dennis Bergkamp and the injured Ray Parlour. Davor Suker and Kanu started up front for only the second time.
AIK Solna's fans were certainly taking it seriously. Although their crowds rarely top 14,000 for domestic fixtures, there was a near-full house of more than twice that figure at the Rasunda stadium, hoping to see the Swedish side's first Champions League victory.
Less than 500 were from north London but they were first to raise a cheer with Overmars' 16th-minute goal. Petit beat the Swedish offside trap and his cross found Overmars unmarked to calmly fire past Mattias Asper from 10 yards.
Arsenal had begun to take charge but were caught on their heels when Andersson burst on to a long ball from Daniel Tjernstrom and rounded Alex Manninger before sliding into an empty net.
Arsenal were under the cosh at the start of the second half, having to stoically defend a series of free-kicks near their area, but then turned the game with two goals in four minutes. Kanu set up both, slipping the ball through on the left side of the area for Overmars to put away his second. The Dutchman should have completed a hat-trick 40 seconds later but drove his shot across the face of goal.
Immediately Nebojsa Novakovic blew a great chance to equalise, pulling his shot wide, and was soon punished when Kanu crossed low for Suker to convert from close range. Solna bounced back after 68 minutes when Tjernstrom's diagonal ball put Andersson in behind Lee Dixon to poke the ball home.
AIK Solna: Asper (Baxter 72), Nordin, Kaamark, Corneliusson (Aslund 72), O. Andersson, Lagerlof, Gustafsson, Kjolo, Tjernstrom, Novakovic, A. Andersson. Subs Not Used: Mattiasson, Hoch, Johansson, Ishizaki, Ljung. Goals: A. Andersson 41, 68.
Arsenal: Manninger, Dixon, Luzhny (Vivas 78), Upson, Winterburn, Ljungberg, Vieira, Petit (Malz 78), Overmars, Kanu, Suker (Hughes 78). Subs Not Used: Seaman, Vernazza, Cole, Black. Goals: Overmars 17, 52, Suker 56. Att: 33,000.
Referee: H Strampe (Germany).
