Arsenal’s first campaign back in the UEFA Champions League saw Mikel Arteta’s side miss out on a semi-final place with a 1-0 defeat in Munich.
Following on from the poor showing versus Aston Villa, Mikel Arteta opted to bring Jorginho back into the midfield. Takehiro Tomiyasu also came back into the XI, being preferred at left-back ahead of Oleksandr Zinchenko.
The fans in the südkurve area of the Allianz Arena were up for it ahead of kick-off, with the ultras group letting off multiple pryos. However despite the intimidating atmosphere, Arsenal started confidently on the ball and was controlling the overall play of the game in the opening stages. Although, the first change of the game fell to the home side when Harry Kane met a Leroy Sane cross with a volley but fired wide.
Eventually, Arsenal began to turn their possession into chances, a deflected strike from the returning Gabriel Martinelli forcing the Bayern captain Manuel Neuer into a comfortable save. The Brazilian winger also was on the end of the Gunners best chance of the opening period, when a cutback from Tomiyasu found Martinelli with space to pick his spot on the edge of the box but his strike was straight at Neuer.
There wasn’t much to report in the second half after that Martinelli chance. With the Allianz Arena the setting for a very tense affair between Bayern and Arsenal. The second half however, sprung into life in the opening minutes, when the home side struck the woodwork twice, the first coming from a Kane header and the second coming on the resulting rebound when a Raphael Guerriero strike was blocked by William Saliba and onto the post of David Raya’s goal.
That chance was a warning for Arsenal, and as the Bayern fans began to grow in confidence, so did the German side themselves as they began to assert command of the contest. And they got the reward for an improved second half as a cross found Joshua Kimmich who headed into the Arsenal net to give the Bavarians the lead on the hour mark and leave Arsenal needing a goal in order to get back into the tie.
Mikel Arteta’s side needed to raise performance levels as they had struggled since the break. However, the only side that looked like adding to the match’s scoreline was Bayern as just like the second half against Villa, Arsenal’s tiredness began to show as the second half continued.
What summed up the night for Arsenal was their very last kick of the night, as a Bukayo Saka corner hit the first man of the Bayern defence and the final whistle blew as Arsenal crashed out of the Champions League at the quarter final stage. A disappointing night, but still reason to be proud of considering it was Arsenal’s first Champions League adventure in seven years and reaching the quarters represents a realistic target.
Arsenal’s hopes of keeping their season alive rests on their next game as a win is a must as they travel away to Wolverhampton Wanderers.