Kevin Whitcher
In the greater scheme of things, last night’s result is probably insignificant. Always the toughest fixture in the group, the law of averages suggested Arsenal would lose, after a win and a draw in their previous two visits. Defeats away to Zagreb and at home to Olympiacos were the results that effectively put paid to the club’s future participation in the Champions League after the winter break. Of course they could still qualify. Olympiacos losing in Germany is no great leap of faith. The Gunners should beat Zagreb at home. A 2-0 or 3-1 away win in Athens? However, many will feel that, given the chances of actually progressing much further in the competition are questionable even if Arsenal did make the last 16, does it really matter? Maybe only if one is obsessed by the UEFA co-efficient system that might strip the Premier League of one of its four CL berths. How ironic if Arsenal turned out to be the club that suffered at the end of next season, were Italy to usurp England in the rankings.
Bellerin and Koscielny were ruled out through injury (or at least the latter was not risked). Still, Debuchy is an experienced international, and Gabriel is highly rated on his contributions so far. It should have been a strong enough backline to at least get out of the Allianz arena with some dignity. However, the defending was often of a very low standard, not assisted by poor work closing down in front of them. In short, mistakes that Arsene Wenger’s team frequently get away with in domestic matches were punished mercilessly in Munich. It was a salient lesson that the team is not as good as some might believe. Arsenal set up to soak up pressure and if something came on the counter attack, all well and good. That didn’t last long because they simply switched off. Alacantra was given time and space to deliver a cross that beat the offside trap, and the gameplan had to change.
It meant more risks, more chances, more Bayern goals.
I am sure many Gooners have already developed a loathing for the blue cup kit that has seen exposure in Sheffield and Munich. It felt like a bad omen when the team took the pitch in it. Ozil’s rightly disallowed goal apart (and after years of doing nothing, with great timing, finally the official on the goal-line wakes up to show exactly what he is there for), Arsenal were on the rack for most of the first half. The third goal – Cazorla dribbling just outside his own penalty area and being robbed, as seems to happen quite often – was especially disappointing. Bayern were taking the p*** and one feared an avalanche in the second half.
Credit due to the visitors for at least making a fist of the second 45 minutes, and giving the travelling support something to cheer. It took a fourth Bayern goal to spur them into life. However, the final result was never in doubt. If Arsenal had actually threatened to make up the deficit, Bayern would have simply gone into another gear. For the most part, the German side treated the second half as a training ground match.
In a sense, the idea of Arsenal coming back and putting on a show when all was already lost seemed a bit symbolic of certain past Premier League campaigns, and indeed some Round of 16 second legs after they have been effectively eliminated in the first.
Granted, Bayern do seem to hammer everyone at home this season. Arsenal are not alone in suffering a lesson there. What lessons can we take from this match? Just that Bayern are far more likely to win this competition than Arsene Wenger’s side and that the win in the home match against Guardiola’s team was a remarkable result. It will probably prove meaningless, but then, most of the club’s European campaigns these days are only really about income. In nine seasons since reaching the 2006 final, they have made the semi final stage once and the quarter final stage twice. There have been a few footballing lessons handed out to Arsenal along the way (although rarely learned from). Last night was another.
As long as there is no hangover on Sunday, the defeat will be forgotten quickly enough. Arsenal have more pressing priorities this season.
To end, an email from an occasional email correspondent, Phil Alexander, who to my mind has an insightful take on things. He summarized his thoughts on last night as follows…
1. When you go out wearing a kit like that you have no chance.
2. No excuses since it was a first choice Arsenal XI apart from Campbell, and Gabriel who is cover no 1 for two positions and so has to be considered as a first choice player (and Debuchy was first choice until very recently).
3. They gave up as soon as the first goal went in and then was just shooting practice for Bayern.
4. The problem was primarily mental last night.
5. Goal 1: Cazorla skipping merrily to Thiago did not close down (STILL our players do not stop crosses at source) and Gabriel played all onside. Same for goal 3, Alaba needs to be closed down faster.
6. Look at how Thiago anticipated when we had the ball continuously throughout the game – their work without the ball is not mainly about physical effort but more about reading the game to get the ball back ASAP with often 3-4 players around our one.
7. Fringe players are (a) not good enough yet (hence fringe) and (b) not playing regularly so not up to speed. Gabriel and Campbell the obvious examples. Both really suffered.
8. Does AW really believe that Sanchez, Ozil and Cazorla can play every game ‘til the end of the season without getting injured?
9. Giroud may not be Messi/CR/Suarez but is under-rated and very valuable to the team when on form and is normally receiving the ball with two defenders on him. One of the few bright spots. And Sanchez will always give everything and be a danger.
10. Watching the players “warm up” and “stretch” is like looking at Sunday league players. English football is still very backward in so many ways, example: in Italy virtually no teams do static stretching anymore, all dynamic, yet Arsenal carry on like it is 1996. Getting two muscle injuries like Walcott/Ox the other night is inexcusable. It’s not about the medical team specifically, it is the whole preparation. Something is wrong, it may be as simple as more hydration is needed, who knows (more likely to be a combination of factors), but something is definitely wrong (stating the obvious I know). Read Verheijen’s quotes here in case you missed it. He is spot on – managers have formulas. They can either adapt them (like Demento (that’s Alex Ferguson by the way – Ed) did) or they stick with them and time moves on around them.
I am now on Twitter@KevinWhitcher01.
