A profound chill crept over Arsenal’s hopeful season on a brass-monkeys night in Bavaria, and they withdrew from the Champions League.
Josh Kimmich’s spectacular header was all that was needed to advance Harry Kane and his Bayern Munich teammates to the semifinals against Mikel Arteta’s team.
8Arsenal have been dumped out of the Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
8Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich have secured their spot in the semisCredit: Rex
8Joshua Kimmich celebrates after breaking the deadlock against ArsenalCredit: Getty
He raced through three Gunners defenders to head home on 63 minutesCredit: Reuters
The Gunners lost their lead in a thrilling Premier League title chase on Sunday at home against Aston Villa, and this far more severe setback came four days later.
Even though Arteta has made significant changes to this team over the last three seasons, this was still “same old Arsenal.”
It was Bayern’s sixth Champions League elimination of the team in the club’s previous six campaigns.
Arsenal was solid with the ball in this situation, but they lacked penetration.
It wasn’t until a futile late rally in the closing minutes that they forced a single clear scoring opportunity.
This is a club that doesn’t really need a center-forward, so the cries to sign one in the summer will be louder.
Similar to Villa, Arsenal lost by a narrow margin against strong opposition once more.
It was a respectable effort from a group of guys playing in their first Champions League together; it wasn’t a choke.
Additionally, this is a sport that calls for nous and expertise. Before a club can even consider lifting Old Big Ears, they typically have to knock on doors for a considerable number of years.
Arsenal is green, and they were green when they competed in the premier European league.
This provided their former Tottenham teammate Eric Dier and England captain Harry Kane a welcome kick in the nuts while also preserving their chances of winning a trophy in their first season as Bayern players.
But, it did not improve Tottenham’s prospects of qualifying for the Champions League the following year.
Spurs will undoubtedly need to finish in fourth place in order to qualify for the competition, which will be redesigned for the upcoming season. Germany and England have been fighting for a fifth entrance, and the Germans now have a clear advantage.
Still, Bayern deserved to win. They outplayed the Emirates in their 2-2 draw from last week, hitting the woodwork twice before Kimmich’s goal.
Though William Saliba kept Kane quiet and well-restrained, he can yet hope to play in the June 1 Wembley final.
This Arsenal team is very skilled at dominating weaker teams in the Premier League.
But they need more of an attacking threat if they are to overcome the best. In close quarters like this, they require a predator to take out the opposition.
Arsenal had been gubbed 5-1 on the previous two visits here and many supporters still have nightmares about this intimidating spaceship sponsored by an insurance company.
Bayern were denied twice by the post in the first half
Leroy Sane would occasionally evade Tomiyasu, but Bayern found some happiness halfway through the half when Raphael Guerriero darted through and fed Noussair Mazraoui, the full-back, who missed the goal by a tiny margin.
David Raya quickly stopped a chance from Jamal Musiala, but Arsenal quickly put Bayern’s goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, to the test, as he stopped shots from Martin Odegaard and Martinelli.
Although Arsenal was pressuring Bayern and snagging their ankles as they attempted to play out of the back, they were only partially successful since the final pass was never played correctly.
Bayern was on Arsenal’s tails right after the break, hitting the woodwork twice.
Ben White diverted Guerriero’s shot onto the same upright after Leon Goretzka’s header first struck the post.
Arsenal was given a serious warning, but they disregarded it, and the Germans took the lead on minute 63.
8It was a frustrating night for Bukayo Saka and the GunnersCredit: AFP
8Mikel Arteta’s men barely laid a glove on the German giantsCredit: Getty
8Ex-Spurs star Eric Dier celebrates with Manuel Neuer after the full-time whistleCredit: AP
Raya had flapped at a cross from the right and then Guerreiro delivered one from the left with full-back Kimmich escaping the attentions of Martinelli to score with a stooping header.
Arsenal had conceded twice in quick succession in the home leg, then again against Villa, and they almost did so again.
Guerreiro, a proper menace, cut back low but Sane blazed his shot miles over when he could have put the tie to bed.
Arsenal attacked throughout injury-time but they never looked like scoring.