When the Champions League quarter-final came around, Bayern Munich certainly demonstrated their claim that they transform into a completely different team. Their victory proved a personal triumph for Thomas Tuchel, who is heading towards salvaging an otherwise dismal domestic season with another European trophy, thereby reassuring everyone that his reputation as a star coach is intact. Despite a promising first half, Arsenal couldn’t hold up against a strong Bayern performance, ultimately losing to a neat header from Joshua Kimmich.
The defeat now leaves Mikel Arteta’s squad in a challenging position. Hopes were high due to a streak of promising games, yet their season now wobbles precariously. Though reaching the quarter-finals displays some progress, Bayern’s adept control of the game highlights the gaps Arsenal still needs to fill.
Arteta had motivated his players to shake off their recent loss to Aston Villa and seize this opportunity to define a new era. This directive came amidst tactical issues, with neither Jakub Kiwior nor Oleksandr Zinchenko considered suitable choices to square off with Leroy Sané, leading to the deployment of the more reliable Takehiro Tomiyasu. The starting line-up also included Gabriel Martinelli, hoping to exploit Bayern’s inconsistent defence from the first leg.
Playing at the Allianz Arena puts any team against Bayern’s respected history and their comfort on the field. Tuchel was astute in his pre-match comments, perhaps considering that his team was missing some key players. Like Arteta, he likewise made adjustments to his left flank, with the unavailability of Alphonso Davies and injured Serge Gnabry, providing chances for Noussair Mazraoui and Raphaël Guerreiro to shine.
Facing opponents missing key player Kingsley Coman, Arsenal held a potential advantage. Their early dominance in possession seemed to be tolerated by Bayern, evidenced by Manuel Neuer’s immediate clearance upfield right after kick-off. Bayern were content to react, with their initial couple of attempts resulting in shots from Harry Kane, which were unfortunately off target.
Arsenal recognised the potential of the evening to seize slight upper hands, such as making the Bayern side swap ends post-toss, despite noticeable dissatisfaction from the energetic crowd as their team attacked the Südkurve first. The visiting fans numbering 3,779, located at the oppositer end, watched Martinelli miss his mark and probably felt motivated seeing Saka effectively sidestep Mazraoui.
When a diagonal pass found Sané behind Tomiyasu, he must have been just as excited. However, his cross was intercepted by Gabriel Magalhães. Far from being unsteady, Bayern’s wide attacking approach remained threatening, with Guerreiro enabling Mazraoui’s excellent delivery, expertly deflected by Ben White. Jamal Musiala posed a direct threat with a 25-yard shot, which David Raya managed to fend off.
However, the game wasn’t entirely one-sided, as Arsenal had their close calls around the half-hour mark. Neuer had to use a last-ditch effort to deflect Martin Ødegaard’s strange shot, but shortly after, Arsenal missed a prime chance to go ahead. Martinelli had an excellent opportunity to score, being unmarked at the penalty area when Ødegaard passed back, but his shot went straight to Neuer.
Arsenal’s missed opportunity brought tension to the match, escalating when Arteta called his team for a sideline chat during Saka’s treatment. In response, Bayern tried to recommence with a nearly vacant pitch. Such antics weren’t entertained by Danny Makkelie, the match official, hinting at the need for a decisive intervention in the unfolding drama.
Arsenal showed promise at the end of the first half, giving them hope for the coming second half. Unfortunately, they nearly fell behind shortly after the half’s start, with Leon Goretzka’s undetected late run leading to a well-executed header that clattered off the crossbar. This served as a ruthless reminder of the concealed danger posed by Bayern despite their occasional sloppy performance.
Unease was induced when Gabriel barely missed his own net while warding off Guerreiro’s attempt aim for Kane. Nonetheless, Eric Dier’s quick thinking stopped Kai Havertz from creating an opportunity at the opposition’s end. Despite Arsenal’s overall control of the game, they struggled to convert this advantage into tangible opportunities.
Bayern continually seemed more capable of taking compelling action, a notion validated when Kimmich successfully scored. This decisive moment happened as Sané swiftly moved along the right touchline and crafted a cross that Raya bungled, leading Guerreiro to seize the moment. An accurate cross met a perfectly timed run, resulting in a forceful header that marked a goal.
Sané had an immediate opportunity to secure the win but fluffed his lines while Arteta attempted to inject fresh energy into an otherwise stagnant performance by introducing Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus. Despite these attempts, the best Arsenal could muster was an off-target shot by Ødegaard that brushed the side net, ending any hope they had of turning the tables. – Guardian