Arsenal Vs Bayern Munich: Recap, Highlights And Analysis

Arsenal hosted Bayern Munich for the return leg of the Champions League last 16 tie. Here is the full recap, all the highlights and analysis from the 5-1 loss.

It was yet another embarrassment for Arsenal against Bayern Munich. It was an optimistic first half, bursting with some promising individual displays. However, the second half collapse saw them suffer the biggest defeat they have ever faced at the Emirates.

Arsenal started in bright fashion. They chose their moments to drop in deep and stay compact but also looked to press Bayern at times also. There was a greater fluidity to their attacking play, with the pivoting pair of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Aaron Ramsey making threatening, driving runs from midfield.

It was an approach that worked well for the Gunners and ultimately brought the opening goal. With Theo Walcott stationed out on the right, he picked up the ball from a Hector Bellerin, drove forward, enjoying a fortunate ricochet off the back of Olivier Giroud’s foot before recollecting the ball and lashing a shot high into the roof of the net, past Manuel Neuer who perhaps should have done better.

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The goal was a sign of encouragement for Arsenal, who continued to be brave in their pressing. Oxlade-Chamberlain was magnificent, with a lovely range of distribution, while Walcott was electric down the right wing. Theo himself was brought down in the box by Xabi Alonso for what should have been a penalty, moments before Shkodran Mustafi found Walcott in behind again with a lovely, slid pass; the near post shot hit the side netting.

As the half progressed, Bayern grew into the game. The movement of Robert Lewandowski began to create space; Arjen Robben continued to the threaten Nacho Monreal, who was rather isolated with Alexis Sanchez lacking his usual defensive work ethic, and the duo linked up for the German’s best chance of the game. Robben, driving in on his left foot, looked to shoot, before dinking a lovely cute pass into the path of the Polish marksman, only to see the contorted shot slide past the far post.

Arsenal were happy to get to half-time and perhaps deserved to be further in front. However, while their performance brought many positives, a lot of work was still to be done.

The second half started in much the same way. Arsenal were brave in their play and did cause problems. Giroud missed a header, failing to direct it goalwards, while Sanchez and Oxlade-Chamberlain continued to link up well.

However, in one fell swoop, the tie was suddenly over.

Lewandowski was able to slip the attentions of Laurent Koscielny for the first real time, and just as he collected the ball in front of goal, was felled by the Frenchman. It was a clear penalty but then, as they did all night long, the referees conspired hatred among all the Arsenal faithful by sending Koscielny off. Lewandowski duly stepped up and calmly converted the penalty, reasserting the four-goal advantage of the Germans.

Bayern’s second goal came soon after. Arsenal continued to be brave in their possession but this time saw their courage backfire. David Ospina played the ball to Arjen Robben. A one-two and an Alexis Sanchez error later, and Robben himself was in on goal, and he opened his body and calmly placed the past the onrushing Ospina. It was a goal based on Arsenal’s mistake, but you can hardly blame them.

Bayern added a third through Douglas Costa, who cut inside on his left foot and fired a lovely finish past Ospina. And then a fourth came after Shkodran Mustafi poorly gave the ball away, resulting in Arturo Vidal dinking a cheeky finish over Ospina, piling the pain on Arsenal. Vidal then added a fifth, after Costa set up him on the plate, passing round Ospina after a hint of offside in the build-up.

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The first half was promising enough for Arsenal but the second half capitulation only supported the growing shouts for Wenger to end his reign in the summer. Ivan Gazidis stated that the club would be able to compete with the likes of Bayern Munich thanks to the move to the Emirates. On this showing, he could not have been more wrong.

Highlights

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