Match Review: FC Bayern 1 Arsenal 1 - Champions League - 11.03.14

In the end, it was mission impossible for us. As expected, the deficit was too great and the opposition too strong to be surmounted. But we were far from embarrassed over the two legs and the team and fans can take heart in seeing the quality we’re able to produce when faced with a team that has made a mockery of most of their opponents. With some huge games coming up, the confidence should come from what we know we can produce.

As expected, Wenger wasn’t willing to concede defeat and fielded an ambitious looking team. You can bet your house on Wenger playing a strong team in every Champions League game and everything you need to know about gambling sites can be found here. Koscielny returned from injury, but injury giveth and taketh away as Vermaelen was forced to play at left back. Flamini dropped to the six man bench following an embarrassing oversight which saw Ryo travel to Germany despite being ineligible. Giroud was restored to the starting line-up, while Chamberlain moved into the centre of midfield. However, the team didn’t set up in the expected way. Cazorla and Arteta served as the two slightly deeper midfielders, while Özil stayed out on the right and Chamberlain played a more advanced role in the middle. The game plan was similar to the one we employed last year, let Bayern play in front of us and look to nick a goal before committing more to attack.

With the way were set up to play, it was inevitable that Bayern would have the majority of the possession. The really impressive thing about Bayern is how quickly they close around their opposition when they lose the ball. It’s unbelievable and a little frightening how there are three or four players able to make a tackle or block no matter how quick you’re able to nip the ball around. They force the passing to become quicker and quicker until control is lost, or they block off all the forward options and force the opposition back until they’re forced to go long. The few times we looked threatening came when we got Chamberlain on the ball and he got to run at Bayern. It seemed their one weakness; with someone quick and tricky running at them in their own half, they looked vulnerable, but it didn’t happen nearly enough. Largely, the first half was about us keeping defensively solid and staying in the tie.

The second half started worryingly, as Özil was forced off with a hamstring injury. After the game Wenger said the German will miss a least a few weeks, ruling him out of Sp*rs on Sunday and Chelsea the following week. Further information is due this week on the full extent of his injury, but it is feared he could well be out for a while longer. Rosicky replaced Özil and nine minutes in, we suffered another blow. Ribery beat Sagna on the right and Cazorla and Chamberlain failed to track Schweinsteiger, who stormed into the box, received the ball and waited for Fabianski to commit before smashing the ball home. The goal meant extra time was no longer possible and Arsenal would have to score three or go out.

But just when you thought it was game over, hope flickered dimly once more. Perhaps Bayern were a little complacent having seemingly killed the tie, but they allowed us back into the game. Rosicky switched the ball from the right to Podolski, who took on Lahm. Lahm got his body infront of Podolski who nudged him in the back. Lahm went down very easily, but most seemed to stop, expecting a free kick, even Podolski looked at the ref for a moment before realising he could play on. He duly advanced on goal and from an impossible angle, he absolutely destroyed the ball past Neuer, The keeper quite wisely decided to protect his head rather than try to stop the shot. He may well have been decapitated had it hit him.

For just a while, it seemed Bayern were vulnerable and we nearly took advantage, but the final ball wasn’t quite right. At one point, Javi Martinez was caught in possession by Cazorla, who won the ball cleanly, but the referee blew for a free kick. Cazorla would have been through on goal with support from others, but Martinez flung himself to the ground and the referee was more than happy to buy it. Had we gone through and scored there, it would have made things hugely interesting. Ten minutes left and a Bayern team suddenly all at sea would have given us an excellent chance.

As it was, Bayern eventually recovered their composure and as if to put a cherry on the proverbial cake, won a penalty in the final minute through Robben’s umpteenth dive of the tie. Koscielny barely breathed on the little cheat and he flung himself to the ground looking plaintively to the ref as he did it. I just laughed, much like Wenger did, what’s the point of getting angry when the result is already confirmed. Happily, justice was done, as Thomas Müller sent the penalty down the middle and Fabianski saved with his feet as he dived to his right. The ball spun agonisingly towards the goal, but the Pole recovered brilliantly to claw the ball off the line. A draw was the least we deserved.

So the Champions League is finished for us for another season. Overall, we’ve given a brilliant account of ourselves given the opposition we’ve faced. But for a stupid and avoidable defeat in Naples, things would have been different. We’d have faced Zenit, not Bayern and had a much better chance to progress. But against Bayern, we should have been 1-0 up before Szczesny’s red card and 11v11 we drew 1-1 away from home. The turning point was that red card. That’s the regret. Who knows what could have happened if the whole tie had been 11v11. We’ll never know. But the best tonic is always to go and smash Sp*rs!

Fun Fact

Mesut Özil has created the most chances of any player in the CL this season (18).

Teams

Bayern (4-1-4-1)
Neuer, Lahm, Martinez (Y), Dante (Y), Alaba, Thiago, Schweinsteiger, Götze (Kroos 59’), Robben, Ribery (Müller 85’), Mandzukic
Subs
Starke, Boateng, Rafinha, van Buyten, Kroos, Müller, Pizarro

Arsenal (4-2-3-1)
Fabianski, Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Vermaelen (Y), Arteta (Y) (Gnabry 77’), Cazorla, Podolski (Y), Chamberlain (Flamini 84’), Özil (Rosicky 45’), Giroud
Subs
Viviano, Jenkinson, Flamini, Rosicky, Hayden, Gnabry

Player Ratings

Fabianski - 7/10 - Really impressive contribution over the last couple of games
Sagna - 7/10 - Had a tough time against Ribery, did quite well
Koscielny - 7/10 - Largely had a very good game, unfortunately conceded a soft penalty
Mertesacker - 7/10 - So much love for his interception then fist pump
Vermaelen - 8/10 - Get’s extra because he was playing out of position and did brilliantly
Arteta - 6/10 - Struggled as the only clear defensive mid, but battled gamely
Cazorla - 6/10 - Ineffective pushed back into centre mid, often crowded out quickly
Podolski - 7/10 - Put in a good shift and scored a hilariously brutish goal
Chamberlain - 8/10 - Brilliant performance from the youngster, a magnificent talent
Özil - 6/10 - Doing a much more defensive job than he’s used to, will be a huge miss
Giroud - 5/10 - Too isolated up top to be able to influence the game
Subs
Rosicky - 7/10 - Gets a tenuous assist, but overall was solid
Gnabry - N/A
Flamini - N/A

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