Match Report: Arsenal Can Take Positives from Bayern Loss
A fantastically resilient 10-man Arsenal rearguard was unfortunate to be breached twice as Bayern Munich won by a two goal margin at the Emirates at this stage of the Champions League for a second successive season. The Gunners were the inferior team on the night, but their task was made all the more difficult by the decision to show Wojciech Szczesny a red card just before half time.
The home team had started the game the better side. They were sharper to every ball, and the clash began with wave after wave of Arsenal attack. Yaya Sanogo looked like he might vindicate his manager's decision to hand him a start despite only previously playing 127 minutes in an Arsenal shirt. By the time Arsenal won an 8th minute penalty, the young Frenchman had had more touches of the ball than any other player on the pitch. It was starting to look like the Gunners might just be able to spring a surprise.
Mesut Özil was inexplicably handed penalty duties once again, though, and there was a visible indecisiveness about him during his run up. Manuel Neuer second guessed him to palm a tame attempt away and keep the tie goalless. Özil is now the only player to have missed two penalties in this season's Champions League; he also did so when Marseille were the visitors back in November.
Szczesny was given his marching orders when he clipped Arjen Robben, and while the debate rages on as to whether a professional foul deserves the triple-whammy of a red card, suspension and penalty, for the time being, until any major rule changes are made, it was the correct decision. David Alaba gave Özil a run for his money with a penalty attempt that was struck with more power but was undeniably worse in that he didn't even hit the target; the sides, somehow, went in level at the break.
With Kieran Gibbs also forced off, Wenger was restricted in the changes he could make as he had only 1 substitution remaining and the advantage that gave his opposite number ultimately made the difference. Pep Guardiola introduced Rafinha at half time in place of the yellow-carded, tightrope-walking Jerome Boateng, with Philipp Lahm initiating a midfield shuffle and - vitally - Arjen Robben moving over to the right flank.
Pep instructed the Dutch winger to run at Nacho Monreal, and with Arsenal coming out for the second half in a 4-4-1 formation, with the defensively absent-minded Özil at left midfield, the Bayern boss sensed an opportunity. Play was spread out to that side time and again by the imperious Toni Kroos, who completed a 147 passes - a joint-high in the Champions League this season. 41% of Bayern's attacks went down the right - compared to 26% down the left - and Özil simply allowed Rafinha to join Robben in doubling up on Monreal who was in turn left with little chance. Monreal's tracking of runners is at times questionable anyway - as Robben proved in winning the penalty - and with Pep targetting him, there was always going to be trouble.
Robben, was joined by Lahm too in the move that created the first goal, and the German was allowed far too much time on the edge of the Arsenal box to find Kroos, who also had all the time in the world to pick his spot. He is so good that he might well have scored anyway, but Özil made little to no effort and Arsenal were behind.
There has been talk that he is suffering without a proper break, and he again looked jaded and depleted here. Bayern ruthlessly continued to push for another goal as they maintained an incredible pass success rate of 95% and enjoyed 79% possession. Again, Bayern found too much time and space down the right, and Lahm had time to pick out a cross from which Thomas Müller headed home.
The red card had, predictably, ruined the game as a spectacle. Bayern are the superior team and were even more in control with an extra man, so there was little hope for the home side from that moment onwards. Arsenal were made to pay for their penalty miss, and one is left to wonder what might have been if another member of Arsenal's talented squad had taken it.
Nonetheless, Arsenal won 2-0 at the Allianz last season against a Bayern side that had relaxed somewhat with a two-goal lead from the first leg. Manchester City won there only a few months ago after Bayern had gone two goals up and, predictably, relaxed too much. Playing against a Bayern side who had to win might have been a tougher task than one who need to hold onto a lead. In a strange sort of way, perhaps a first leg loss, coupled with the confidence that can be drawn from the opening 30 minutes, might make the second leg more winnable for the Gunners, even if progressing to the quarter finals might seem like an impossible task right now.
Can Arsenal win at the Allianz? Does Özil need a rest? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
