Harsh visit from Bayern
On this day last year, Bayern Munich left the Emirates stadium with a two-goal advantage after the names of Kroos and Muller were featured on the score-sheet. It was 0-2 instead of 1-3 this time but there was no arguing that history had repeated itself on Tuesday night.
Make no mistake about the similarity in results though, Arsenal looked braver today and nearly wrote a different story. Indeed, had Ozil not missed an early penalty-kick which was the reward for a bright start, the Gunners would have been heading for a dream night.
Bayern had their own miss later on as David Alaba hit the post from the penalty spot before half-time, with goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny harshly sent off for fouling Arjen Robben.
That incident which reduced the Gunners to ten men had turned this match into an uphill task for Arsenal and when Toni Kroos found the net as sublimely as he did last year in the 54th minute, all fears became reality.
But like Manchester City yesterday, the Gunners failed to avoid conceding a second goal despite all their fight as Muller headed in the killer blow in the dying moments of the game to keep the tie largely in Bayern’s favour.
Here were Arsene Wenger’s thoughts after the final whistle.
“We made big mistakes, but the spirit was absolutely fantastic.
“The penalty we missed killed the crowd and positive vibes. We were down to 10 men and we suffered physically.
“It is a night the team showed some quality, but at the end of the day we lost the game.
“[Talking about Mesut Ozil’s penalty-taking technique] I prefer people ran properly at the ball. Everybody has their own style, there is not one way of penalty taking.
“[On the Bayern penalty] If there is contact, it is a penalty. I dispute many times it is a red card. If it is a rule, you have to accept it.
“I think Yaya Sanogo is one of the satisfactory parts of tonight. He worked with total commitment, and some quality.
“We got caught basically on the counter for the second goal. We will have a go in the second leg, and you never know.
“We won at the Allianz Arena last season, we will have to try and do the same again.”
The ref must have been a spud fan.
unbelievable red card.
No wonder ozil doesn’t shoot at goal,
Why didn’t cazorla take the pen?
Ozil should have been subbed instead of him.
Wenger f##ked up with all the subs really.
What a nightmare, we we’re robbed.
well done to the emirates crowd they’ve shown more spirit tonight.it sounded amazing!! dodgy red card for me! keeper had to try and stop him..contact was through the momentum of the jump ….later on too much pressure on monreal’s side .should have subbed ozil rather than ox and cover more on that side. 2 nd goal……..naively caught out of position after kosc went up for a free kick…….will we ever learn? 1-0 was acceptable IMO tonight ……2-0 is a tough one! shouldhave defended well in the 2nd goal 🙁
Thank you for share.Bayern Munich be champion this year.