by Roughly translated, Bayern Munich’s motto “mia san mia” means “we are who we are”. On a night when Arsenal were hoping to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2009, it was Thomas Tuchel’s side who showed that there is no substitute for experience in this competition.
Now the second manager after the certain José Mourinho to guide his team to the last four with three different clubs, Tuchel knows what it takes to go all the way. But while the Bayern manager has done no harm in finding new employers this summer, after a much-improved second-half display ended Arsenal’s dreams of winning this competition for the first time, one of the biggest challenges of his managerial career before Mikel Arteta now. as he tried to pick up his jaded squad after a week that played out exactly as he had feared.
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After the disappointment of relinquishing the lead in the Premier League title race by losing to Aston Villa on Sunday, the reaction of the Arsenal players after Joshua Kimmich’s 63rd minute goal told its own story. Although captain Martin Ødegaard tried to rouse them, Declan Rice’s slumped shoulders suggested there would be no way back.
Arsenal were warned by Harry Kane to expect a “different type of performance in the Champions League” from the Bayern side that surrendered their 11-year hold on the Bundesliga title at the weekend to Bayer Leverkusen and so it was. When Manuel Neuer hit the ball up the pitch after playing it back to him straight from the kick-off, it was clear – just like in the first leg last week when they beat Arsenal by two goals in nine minutes – Tuchel’s tactic was to try to beat them on the break.
But Kimmich, who was forced by the former Chelsea manager to return to right-back this season after spending the last few years as a midfielder, promised Bayern would “try to put our stamp on the game”. After picking up Rice from Neuer’s forward, Kane had the first of two chances inside the opening 10 minutes and looked to extend his already impressive record in this competition.
The England captain became the first player in Champions League history to score nine goals in his first nine appearances and also held the record for the fastest 20 in 24 appearances, although he has since been surpassed by a certain Erling Haaland. However, alongside the twinkling legs of the great Jamal Musiala, it was Leroy Sané who posed the main threat to Arsenal’s defense after his excellent performance in the first leg. The former Manchester City player was criticized last season after failing to reach the heights expected here but gave Arsenal left-back Takehiro Tomiyasu, who was making his first Arsenal start since December, a thorough test in the first half-the-. an hour.
The left side has given Arteta a headache this season but his decision to select the Japanese defender ahead of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior appeared to pay off as Tomiyasu was able to step forward to support Gabriel Martinelli. The Brazilian had the best chance of the first half when he fired straight at Neuer after being picked out by Ødegaard’s excellent low cross. “We’re Arsenal through and through,” said the traveling fans from heaven after watching their team finish the half with a bit more possession. It was as good as it got for them.
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After being banned from the first game, Bayern supporters had already given their riposte with a banner aimed at European football’s governing body which read: “We don’t like you either. Exclude UEFA! Get out of our stadium!” They raised the volume again at the start of the second half when Leon Goretzka’s header hit the crossbar and Gabriel’s back-pass was denied by David Raya.
Arsenal were struggling but seemed to be able to create their own chances against a less than vintage Bayern back line. Unfortunately for them, their own defensive problems backfired and Bayern were given the freedom for Kimmich to head home Raphaël Guerreiro’s cross and spark wild celebrations inside this huge stadium. Arsenal just couldn’t seem to come back and a wild late shot from substitute Gabriel Jesus summed up their woes.
To put things into some context, Bayern have reached nine Champions League semi-finals six times (although this is their first since winning it in 2020) since Arsenal’s last appearance 15 years ago. Kane is keeping alive his hopes of making amends for the 2019 final defeat to Tottenham as Arteta can only contemplate teaching him another tough lesson.
