THE KIMM REAPER
Gunners season in meltdown as they suffer at the Munich tear festival
IN the space of just four days, Arsenal’s season has cruelly unravelled.
Mikel Arteta’s men crashed out of the Champions League after an all too lame surrender in the Allianz Arena.
That comes on top of Arsenal’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.
The Gunners were a team lacking in Champions League experience and know-how against Bayern Munich’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 captain Harry Kane who 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 the Spaniard now lifts his players for Saturday night’s trip to Wolves is 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-inprogress 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.
Kane barely had a look-in all night but the Germans nearly took an early lead when Noussair Mazraoui’s cross-shot flew just wide after being deflected off Ben White (circle). But after some tense early moments, Arsenal settled down and actually looked far more composed and controlled than in the first leg.
Their best chance of the whole night came in the 31st minute when Martin Odegaard’s low ball into the box picked out Gabriel Martinelli, but he fired straight at Manuel Neuer.
The Gunners began to look as if they were ready to handle the big night. Arteta’s buzzword is control. This was a long way from the annual 5-1 thrashings they used to get at
the hands of Bayern in the Champions League.
They grew into the game and bossed the latter stages of the first half as Declan Rice was dominant in midfield, Martinelli dangerous in attack and Odegaard darted about all over the pitch.
But Bayern gave a taste of what was to come after the restart. Leon Goretzka’s header hit the bar and Raphael Guerreiro’s shot on the followup hit the post after being deflected off William Saliba.
Arsenal’s control was beginning to unravel. Gabriel nearly scored an own-goal after a mix-up with David Raya, who had gone for a walkabout.
It then fell apart. Rice lost possession and his man as Guerreiro’s cross split the Arsenal defence, there was Kimmich racing in to power a 63rd-minute header into the net to leave the Allianz Arena rocking.
Arsenal fought back and tried to find a leveller as Odegaard (right) hit the side netting and substitute Gabriel Jesus missed another opening.
But the visitors just could not find a way through and the stadium exploded into noise at the final whistle.