KIMMICH STUNS THE GUNNERS BAYERN MUNICH...
1 0 Arsenal’s season falling apart as Bayern progress GERS’ SLIP-UP A BOOST FOR CELTS
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.
Arsenal were a team lacking in Champions League experience and know-how against Bayern’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
Tired
earth the
RANGERS’ recent regression continued with a grim goalless draw at Dundee last night which further dented their increasingly-fragile Scottish Premiership title hopes.
The Ibrox side lost for the first time ever against Ross County on Sunday in the poorest performance since boss Philippe Clement (left) took over last October and 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 Premier League 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.
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.
But after some tense early moments, Arsenal settled and actually looked far more composed 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 Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer.
The Gunners began to look as if they were ready to handle the big night.
Arteta’s buzzword is control.
Gers supremo was looking for a reaction against the Dark Blues.
Improvement
In a game played at the third time of asking after the Dens Park pitch was twice ruled unplayable, there was no improvement against a
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 follow-up hit the post after being deflected off William Saliba.
Control
Arsenal’s control was beginning to unravel. Gabriel nearly put the ball into his own net after a mixup with keeper 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 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.
Dundee side who impressed.
The travelling Gers fans urged their team on after the break but they lacked imagination and guile and again heard boos at the end.
With five post-split matches remaining including a trip to Celtic Park, the Light Blues are three points behind the Hoops and have hit the skids at the wrong time.