Bayern Munich 1-0 Arsenal (Kimmich 64′) (Bayern win 3-2 on aggregate)
ALLIANZ ARENA — Mikel Arteta appeared to criticise Bayern Munich‘s tactical approach after Arsenal’s defeat in Bavaria brought an end to their Champions League campaign.
Joshua Kimmich was the unlikely destroyer of dreams, thundering a header past David Raya from Raphael Guerreiro’s clipped cross to score the only goal of the second leg and secure a 3-2 aggregate win.
It was a tie always likely to be defined by fine details. Thomas Tuchel speculated that Bayern’s knockout knowhow might be worth an “extra five per cent” and ultimately, so it proved. Bayern have reached the semi-finals of this competition nine times since Arsenal last managed it 15 years ago.
Manuel Neuer made his 138th Champions League appearance on the night; Arsenal’s starting XI have 184 combined with Jorginho and Kai Havertz accounting for over half of them. That experience counts for plenty.
“It was a tie of very small margins,” Mikel Arteta conceded after. “In the first leg obviously we conceded two very poor goals and that had a big effect on the tie.
“I think it was a game you could see that an error or a magical moment was going to decide the tie, the margins are so small. And in the end, we didn’t defend well at all our box in that action.”
“Credit to the opponent as well,” he added. “It’s very difficult to break opponents down, especially when they play in the manner that they played which they never do. But we had our moments, especially in the first half. In the second half, we struggled a little bit more to get that rhythm and momentum.”
Arsenal have acquitted themselves well in their first Champions League campaign in seven years but that will provide little comfort for the next few days. It’s now Premier League or bust as they seek to hunt down Manchester City, who are two points clear with six matches to play.
The Bundesliga handover from Bayern to Bayer was officially completed at the weekend, not that you’d have known before kick-off with the home fans in full voice.
Firework sellers in the Munich area have evidently had a good week. For the first 10 minutes the pitch was covered in a thick smog, the result of a choreographed pyrotechnic show emanating from the all-standing section of the Sud Kurve.
Once the smoke had subsided, Bayern’s fans, who had been forbidden from travelling to north London for the first leg, unfurled a banner with a message to European football’s overseers: “We don’t like you either. Exclude Uefa! Get out of our stadium!” They came for their own club and hiked ticket prices next. Apparently it’s not just an English problem.
Just like in the first leg, both teams took it in turns to attack. Noussair Mazraoui went close to catching out Raya with a deflected cross-shot, with Arsenal’s keeper flinging himself down to parry a Jamal Musiala drive away moments later.
At the other end, a Martin Odegaard shot that took a nick on its way to goal was dealt with in typically unconventional fashion by Manuel Neuer, before a tame Gabriel Martinelli finish from the centre of the penalty area rolled straight into the veteran’s giant gloves.
Then came a moment of semi-controversy. Arteta hosted a hasty pep talk after Bukayo Saka had taken a cross flush in the face and then looked up in horror as a wave of red and white shirts descended untracked on Raya’s goal after Bayern had taken a deviously quick throw-in. Danny Makkelie granted the Gunners a reprieve, much to the annoyance of 70,000 indignant Bavarians.
Bayern’s breakthrough almost came a minute after the restart. Leon Goretzka’s header arced towards the top corner but didn’t dip under the crossbar in time with Guerreiro’s fiercely hit rebound smacking the foot of the post via a touch off William Saliba’s shins.
The chaotic nature of the contest continued. Eric Dier had to be sharp to deny Kai Havertz a clear before Gabriel almost inadvertently passed the ball into his own goal after Bayern had countered at pace. Heads were on a constant swivel, as though watching two players going at it at Wimbledon.
Midway through the second half, the decisive breakthrough arrived. Raya tipped a dangerous Leroy Sane cross towards the byline, but it proved only a partial reprieve as Guerreiro worked a half-yard space and whipped a delightful ball into the box for Kimmich to attack and score.
It gave Bayern fresh impetus. Sane blazed an effort over the bar when he should have settled the tie before Gabriel denied Kimmich a second with a timely block as Bayern’s players visbly grew in stature.
Gradually, Arsenal gathered themselves, controlling possession as Tuchel reinforced his backline by throwing on the towering Kim-min Jae. But for all of their ball retention, the chances didn’t follow. Odegaard drew a finger-tip stop from Neuer, but that was as good as it got. Saka’s wasteful corner with the final kick summed up a futile salvage mission.
Musiala spurned a chance to double Bayern’s lead after being played through by Harry Kane as it ticked towards added time but it didn’t matter.
Bayern’s disastrous campaign could yet end in ultimate glory. Tuchel has done it before, after all. Arsenal must now pick themselves up for Wolves on Saturday, their own trophy hopes fading fast after a painful week.