sport news Arsenal dealt a heartbreaking lesson in Champions League knockout football by ... trends now
Arsenal will come again. This vibrant team, expertly assembled by Mikel Arteta is far too accomplished not to.
Their future is bright, there is no doubting that. Their present, however, is far less encouraging.
Here in Bavaria they were dealt a heartbreaking lesson in Champions League knockout football by European royalty, crashing out of the competition at the quarter final stage.
This will hurt - the fact Harry Kane and Eric Dier were in the opposing team would only have served to intensify the pain of deflating night.
Yet there’s no time to feel sorry for themselves. They face Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday where defeat would leave their hopes of winning the domestic title for the first time in 20 years in tatters.
Joshua Kimmich scored a header to knock Arsenal out of the Champions League quarter-finals
Arsenal were looking to reach their first Champions League semi-finals since 2009 but lost 1-0 in Munich and 3-2 on aggregate
What psychological impact will this excruciating night in Germany have on Arsenal’s players? Will have the answer by Saturday night.
A season that had promised so much is at risk of unravelling rather rapidly.
Arteta must lift his players; easier said than done after this gut-wrenching loss to Bayern Munich.
In the end, the Gunners can have no complaints. They were brave in the heat of battle. Arteta’s young side will be emerge stronger from this agonising defeat.
But Bayern were fully deserving of their victory here as Kane’s dream of Champions League glory lives on.
When the dust settles, Arsenal will take the learnings and move on. They weren’t embarrassed or outplayed on a night that represented the biggest test of their club careers.
There was little sign, though, that the magnitude of the occasion had taken grip during the early stages. Arsenal were composed, popping the ball around with comfort and zest, although Kane did squander two half-chances in the opening 10 minutes.
Arsenal’s controlled start would have gone some way towards placating concerns Arteta may have had over how the pressures of last night’s clash would affect his players.
Bayern Munich fans brought the fire and thunder to the stands at the Allianz Arena, creating a pulsating atmosphere
Gabriel Martinelli missed a pivotal chance in the first half as Arsenal lacked cutting edge
Such a promising season for the Gunners is at risk of unravelling and ending with pain
They are inexperienced at this level. They’ve rarely encountered nights like these, the sort of that puts hairs on your chest.
Yet, inn the first half, Arsenal’s players showed little signs of being overawed.
Jorginho and Declan Rice were combining effectively in midfield, while Gabriel Martinelli’s directness and pace caused Joshua Kimmich significant concerns down the Bayern right.
Yet, with all that said, the tension was tangible. Bayern’s crop may not be held in the same esteem as some of their legendary sides
