Bayern blitz leaves Wenger nowhere to hide ‘BBC’ under scanner despite Real victory
Calls for Frenchman’s dismissal get louder after Arsenal humiliated 15 at home by Munich team
Bayern Munich condemned Arsene Wenger to more humiliation as 10-man Arsenal were eliminated from the Champions League with a crushing 5-1 defeat amid furious protests against the beleaguered Gunners boss on Tuesday.
Aiming to stage an incredible recovery from a 5-1 first leg deficit, Wenger’s side briefly looked capable of a famous escape act when Theo Walcott opened the scoring in the first half at the Emirates Stadium.
But any hopes Wenger’s recent problems would be erased in historic fashion were brutally dashed by Robert Lewandowski’s second half penalty and Laurent Koscielny’s dismissal for conceding that spot-kick.
Wenger cut a forlorn figure as Arjen Robben and Douglas Costa netted before Arturo Vidal’s double fired Bayern into the quarterfinals with a 10-2 aggregate victory.
It was the first time Arsenal had conceded five at the Emirates on an evening that started with Arsenal fans staging a protest march calling for Wenger to quit and ended with a chorus of boos and banners held up proclaiming: “Enough is enough Wenger out”.
STOP FIGHTING EACH OTHER: WALCOTT
Arsenal winger Theo Walcott has urged his team mates to stop fighting amongst themselves.
According to British media, Alexis Sanchez had a series of rows with Wenger and was dropped to the bench for Saturday’s 3-1 Premier League defeat at Liverpool after he walked out of a training session following a bust up with teammates.
Walcott was quoted by British media saying: “There are certain things that happen at training grounds... You don’t see it often at Arsenal. Things have happened. They need to stay in the dressing room and the players and staff need to sort it out.
“We are in it together here. We can’t be fighting each other. I don’t really want to go into it, but the stuff that has gone on did not affect our first half here (at home to Bayern Munich).”
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane’s insistence on Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale featuring together is under scrutiny after the Champions League holders were outplayed for long periods at Napoli despite winning.
Real’s expensively assembled attacking trio, nicknamed the ‘BBC’, made just seven passes between themselves during the 3-1 come-from-behind win in Tuesday’s last 16 second leg, with Ronaldo and Bale not passing to each other once.
Despite a 3-1 lead from the first leg, Real struggled to cope with an onslaught of pressure from the Serie A side in a frenzied San Paolo stadium and trailed at halftime to Dries Mertens’ strike after 24 minutes.
The 11-time European champions were stronger after the break and drew level with a header from a corner by inspirational captain Sergio Ramos six minutes into the second half. An own goal by Mertens six minutes later, triggered by another Ramos header, put Real 2-1 up. Bale, who has recently returned from a three-month layoff with an ankle injury, was replaced by Lucas Vazquez 11 minutes later and Ben- zema came in the 77th for Alvaro Morata, who got their third in added time, sealing a 6-2 aggre gate win.
Real’s ragged performance despite the result contrasted with a fluid display in the 4-1 La Liga win at Eibar on Saturday when Benzema started alongside Marco Asensio and Lucas Vaz quez in the absence of the injured Ronaldo and suspended Bale.
Real have conceded seven goals and taken five points in their three league games since Bale returned to the lineup.
A poll on the website of the daily AS (As.com) in the lead up to the game showed the Real fans were overwhelmingly against the trio starting together in Naples.