Bayern Munich vs Arsenal a few quick thoughts
Dan Tracey
February 16, 2017
1,982 Views
- Well that escalated quickly
- Being a Tottenham fan, I should not revel in that defeat for Arsenal too much
- But then again with it being Bayern Munich being the ones dishing out the thrashing then perhaps schadenfreude is quite relevant
- I think the game plan for Arsenal going into this game would have been ‘at least make sure the tie is still alive’
- I think it’s fair to say it’s not just on life support, it has flatlined
- Many felt that that Groundhog Day was upon us when Arjen Robben’s fantastic left foot effort from the edge area was curled beautifully past David Ospina
- It seems as if we had watched this game before, what with Arsenal being dealt a 5-1 defeat in last season’s group stages
- But all of a sudden there was an unexpected twist in the tale
- Arsenal were awarded a penalty after Laurent Koscielny was unceremoniously launched into mid-air by Robert Lewandowski
- Alexis Sanchez who scored from the spot against Hull last Saturday was once again tasked with penalty taking duties
- Only this time he would see his effort saved by Manuel Neuer
- But with the ball spinning around the area, it once again eventually found itself at the feet of Sanchez who at the second time of asking fired the ball through a sea of bodies to claw Arsenal level
- All of a sudden we had a game on our hands
- And with The Gunners tails up, they almost took the lead when Granit Xhaka stun the hands of Neuer
- Arsenal fans would have been delighted with the way their side had come back into the game and ended the half in the ascendency
- At the break the two sides were level but I don’t think anyone was quite prepared as to what was to come
- Laurent Koscielny limped off the field early in the second half to replaced by Gabriel
- That was very much the turning the point of the game
- Bayern sensed a weakness and began to lay siege on Arsenal’s goal
- We were then about to witness a 10 minute collapse which could very well define Arsenal’s season and Arsene Wenger’s time at the club
- Firstly Robert Lewandowski headed home to restore Bayern’s lead
- And just three minutes later Bayern would be clear when the Polish forward’s sublime piece of skill put Thiago Alcantara through on goal
- The Spainish international duly obliged with the opportunity presented to him as he slammed the ball past David Ospina
- And the rout would be complete just 7 minutes later when Thiago got his second after a well taken effort from the edge of the area
- Arsenal were now in complete turmoil and if it was not for David Ospina then it could have been 6 or 7 to the German giants
- It may have been prevented from being a cricket score by the Colombian international
- But there was still time for Thomas Muller to get in on act
- His late goal made absolutely sure of not just the win but progression to the Champions League Quarter Finals
- Defeat was always going to bring an inquest but this one is more like a post-mortem
- Once again Mesut Ozil went missing when it really matters
- For someone who wants a £250k a week contract, he certainly is not playing like someone who deserves it
- And talking of contracts is this finally the time when Arsene Wenger decides not to sign the new one offered to him
- Fans were calling for him to go after last night’s brutal defeat
- Now it’s for the likes of ArsenalFanTV to decide when the 67 year old departs but there is no doubting that the rumblings of discontent are getting ever louder
- Did Wenger get his tactics and lineup correct. Alex Iwobi had a poor game while Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain who has been impressive in the centre as of late was anonymous out wide
- But how much can be attributed to the injury of Koscielny
- It’s perhaps harsh to blame Gabriel for the collapse but it’s no coincidence that Arsenal looked a lot more solid with the Frenchmen at the back
- With their tails between their legs, Arsenal now have to prepare for an F.A. Cup game with Sutton United on Monday night.
- They surely cannot lose that one, can they?
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