Latest Arsenal news following the Champions League exit to Bayern Munich with Mikel Arteta sent a clear warning for the future....CONTINUE READING
Arsenal were knocked out of the Champions League in limp fashion by Bayern Munich on Wednesday evening. The Gunners headed to Allianz Arena level in the tie and despite threatening in the first half, could not find a cutting edge in the attacking third with Joshua Kimmich’s powerful header the only goal of a cagey quarter-final second leg.
Just four days on from defeat to Aston Villa, Arsenal’s promising season, which has been full of hope, is at risk of ending without any success exactly as it did last season. With that in mind,
“I wish I had the right words today to make the players feel better,” the Arsenal boss admitted after the game. “What me and all the coaching staff are going to do is be close to the players. I feel so grateful to be their coach and work with them every day.
“What we need to do is stand right next to them, give them our support and our love. We have to pick it up because we have a big, big game on Saturday. We’re still playing for the Premier League and we really want it and we have to show that we’re capable of turning it around.”
With their Champions League journey now over, Arsenal’s only chance of winning trophy remains as the Premier League title. Manchester City, who were also knocked out of the Champions League, are the clear favourites but with six games remaining, there is still so much to play for.
However, the national media have raised. With that said, football.london has rounded up all the major talking points from last night’s defeat and the challenge facing the Gunners over the next few weeks.
“A team lacking Champions League experience.”
John Cross of wrote: “IN THE space of just four days, Arsenal’s season has cruelly unravelled.
“’s men crashed out of theafter an all too lame surrender in the Allianz Arena. That comes on top of’s defeat to Aston Villa in the title race last Sunday and suddenly a season which promised so much is in serious danger of following the same frustrating path as last year.
“Arsenal were a team lacking in Champions League experience and know-how against’s six-time winners as the Germans once again saved their best for Europe. Joshua Kimmich, one of Bayern’s band of big game players, scored the winner and it is England captainwho is now dreaming of a date at Wembley for the final on June 1.
“Arsenal were good in spells, they even controlled parts of the game and had chances but, in reality, they look like a team still finding their way on Europe’s biggest stage. Even more worrying for Gunners boss Arteta was the way his team suddenly looked tired and fatigued as the results have fallen away.
“How on earth Arteta now lifts his players for Saturday night’s trip tois anyone’s guess because, just 72 hours after their Champions League exit, another defeat could effectively end their title hopes.
“The damage was done in the first leg when Arsenal could not beat Bayern, a team which has floundered in the Bundesliga but are seasoned European campaigners which is exactly what Arteta’s men are not.
“Arsenal are still a work in progress and, as long as they keep taking steps and learning lessons, then they will be moving in the right direction but that will be little comfort after this defeat.”
“A missed opportunity for Mikel Arteta and his players”
Nick Ames of the Guardian wrote: “It was a night when Bayern Munich lived up to their assertions that, when the Champions League comes around, they are an altogether different beast.
“Perhaps the obituaries were written too quickly for a troubled superpower that, on this evidence, retains the muscle memory of serial winners. They are two games from visiting Wembley in search of a seventh continental title and the manner in which a depleted side put the dampeners on Arsenal suggests Thomas Tuchel may yet sign off from his fleeting tenure by making an irresistible point.
“This was, nonetheless, a missed opportunity for Mikel Arteta and his players. Arsenal
had a clear foothold in the game after producing an accomplished first half but were outplayed after the interval and left feeling distinctly flat.
“The fact is they departed with a whimper and it was impossible to shake the sense that, ultimately, they did not quite back themselves enough. Bukayo Saka’s unwise decision not to shoot when presented with a deliciously located free-kick deep into added time was emblematic of the gulf in clarity between these sides.
“Perhaps Arsenal may acquire that kind of edge in time but, as Bayern closed the game out with a swagger, that day felt some way off. Arteta suggested afterwards that it could be a decade in the making. The home side had set out with relative caution, allowing their opponents possession and feeling content to pick their moments on the counter.
“But Arsenal struggled when they dialled up the intensity later on and, while Joshua Kimmich’s fine header settled the tie, the margin of victory could have been greater. Bayern fizzed and, as Arteta lamented, there was to be no “magic moment” in the visitors’ first quarter-final since 2010.”
“Arsenal’s Champions League wait goes on.”
Neil Johnston wrote for BBC Sport:
“Arsenal made a bitterly disappointing exit from the Champions League as they were beaten by Bayern Munich in a euphoric atmosphere at Allianz Arena.
“Joshua Kimmich’s powerful 63rd-minute header from Raphael Guerreiro’s cross was enough to send the Germans through to the semi-finals 3-2 on aggregate after the two teams had drawn 2-2 in London in the first leg. Despite being held at Emirates Stadium, Arsenal were confident of advancing against a Bayern Munich side who had endured a poor domestic season and were without key players Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman because of injury.
“In a tight and cagey second leg, watched by Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke, Gabriel Martinelli had the best chance of the first half for the Gunners but shot straight at Manuel Neuer after Jamal Musiala had forced David Raya into a full-stretch save at the other end.
“While Harry Kane had just nine touches in the opening 45 minutes, Neuer was forced into another save by Martin Odegaard’s deflected attempt, which had the long-serving Bayern Munich keeper scrambling across his line.
“With so much at stake for both teams, it was perhaps understandable chances were in limited supply but the second half was a livelier affair with Leon Goretzka heading against the post before Guerreiro’s follow up was scrambled away by Raya, via the post.
“But Kimmich’s attacking header proved decisive and ensured Arsenal’s wait to win the Champions League for the first time goes on.”
