Arsenal’s Champions League campaign has come to an end after a 1-0 second leg defeat away to Bayern Munich. After a goalless first half, Joshua Kimmich broke the deadlock when he ghosted into the penalty area from right-back to power a header past David Raya for the only goal of the game, after a 2-2 draw a week ago. Here, Express Sport takes a look at the game’s biggest talking points, including an unlikely hero for the Bundesliga giants.
Arsenal let down by duo
Mikel Arteta will have been incensed that Kimmich was allowed a completely free run as he ghosted beyond both Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice for a free header just outside the six-yard area that he was able to put away.
The German right-back was often left free as Martinelli doubled back on Leroy Sane with Takehiro Tomiyasu but rather than his passing doing the damage, Kimmich hurt Arsenal with an unexpected run behind the clueless visiting defenders who appeared to pass the buck rather than take responsibility.
Arsenal’s defensive solidity has been the backbone of their stellar season but such mistakes are set to be the undoing of them, with a lot of work to do to enjoy the remainder of the campaign.
Martinelli also will be disappointed not to have made up for missing Arsenal’s biggest chance of the game in the first half, when the ball arrived at his feet at the edge of the box but shot directly at Manuel Neuer when either corner would have sent the away supporters into raptures.
Watch all the Premier League and Champions League drama unfold on TNT Sports
Mikel Arteta’s bold call falls flat
Arteta handed Tomiyasu his first start in 138 days in an attempt to avoid Sane repeating his heroics from the first leg. The former Manchester City man had a field day against Jakub Kiwior a week ago, but Arteta deployed one of his strongest individual defenders to combat Sane directly.
Helped out tremendously by Martinelli in front of him, the pair were able to keep Sane quiet in the first half despite the home side’s repeated efforts to get their star man involved often.
However, Sane was able to get away from Tomiyasu and float a cross that was picked up at the back post by Raphael Guerreiro, he subsequently found a free Kimmich to head past Raya.
Harry Kane keeps trophy dream alive
One of the biggest motivations for Harry Kane’s summer move from Tottenham to Bayern will undoubtedly be the opportunity to win trophies after failing to pick up silverware in north London.
After Bayern’s miserable domestic season saw Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen run away with the Bundesliga title and an early exit in the DFB-Pokal, the England captain was staring at the possibility of a humiliating debut campaign in Germany.
But victory over Arsenal ensures that Bayern are still in the hunt for Europe’s top prize – winning it could transform Kane’s legacy against all odds following a disjointed season, despite his individual success.
Bayern fume at officials again
After last week’s fiasco when Bayern were incensed that they were not awarded a penalty when Gabriel picked the ball up inside his own box when the defender thought he was preparing to take a goal-kick, frustrations were raised once again inside the Allianz Arena.
In a tense first half, Bukayo Saka went down holding his head after blocking a Guerreiro cross and play was halted after the ball had rolled out for a throw-in.
But as the Arsenal squad went over to the touchline for a drink while Saka received treatment, Bayern attempted to take the throw quickly and pounce while the Gunners were napping.
But referee Danny Makkelie quickly forced them to stop despite huge protests from the Bayern team and coaching staff, leaving them enraged for a second time in the tie.
Bayern’s second half sneaky trick backfires pays off
Perhaps surprisingly, the Bayern ground staff had turned the sprinklers on at half-time but only in the final third that Arsenal were attacking in the second half.
A slicker surface ensures that the ball travels faster than any other area of the pitch but also left the players more prone to miscontrolling their touch and slipping over.
The hosts got an immediate reward when Tomiyasu saw the ball slip away from him as a promising attack came to nothing.
Bayern enjoyed a much improved second half after their sneaky sprinkler trick and may have their behind-the-scenes staff to thank for a place in the semi-finals.
