Arsenal
Arsenal Vs Bayern Munich: 5 Things We Learned The Hard Way
Arsenal 1-3 Bayern Munich. Yes, the same mediocrity, the same result just on a different day. Supporting Arsenal is becoming harder and harder with each passing game and with each passing year. 7, now undoubtedly 8 years without any piece of silverware and it’s not the trophies alone that have dried up, but the beautiful football that was played 5 to 6 years ago has totally vanished.
From counter attacking, high tempo passing game play, Arsenal are now playing a slow back passing game with useless possession game play. Last night was another example to prove the standards of the current line-up that Wenger claims as world class. Arsenal were outclassed, out played and literally humiliated at their own back ground. Even Arsenal fans were not expecting a big result last night but that performance is never an acceptable one.
So let’s talk about the 5 things we learned from the defeat to Munich.
1) First and foremost after seeing the game, even the most deluded Arsene Wenger supporter would have started to have a second thought about his/her favorite manager. 8 years of mediocrity and still fans hold him in such high standards, but what for? The mistakes keep repeating every season and by the end of February Arsenal are almost out of every competition in the last couple of season. So what’s the real use of buying the costliest season tickets across England?
2) I have seen this question asked by a few – Arsene Wenger put out the side and it is his player’s responsibility to perform and Wenger has nothing to do it.
This is my reply – Yes Arsene Wenger has no part to do with the outcome of the game once the players are on the pitch, but who brought all these players to Arsenal, who trains them week in week out? And finally what happened to his tactical intuitions and substitution policies? When he benches Giroud and plays Ramsey alongside Arteta, the sensible thing to do is to push Podolski up-front and play Walcott and Cazorla on the wings.
To use Theo as a striker against a team who have not conceded a single goal this year is a more than mistake, it’s a blunder. And in the second half just when Podolski was starting to find his feet and scored a goal he was taken off and replaced by Giroud. Though the Frenchman is not a bad replacement, he could have come in place of Ramsey and Rosicky could have replaced Arteta to give Arsenal a whole new look. Instead Wenger opted for the usual substitutions and everything was way too predictable.
3) Around 90% of the players on the pitch looked like they didn’t particularly care about winning. Obviously they did care and it’s ridiculous to suggest otherwise, but it was only Jack Wilshere who gave his 100% and he was the perfect example of a player who really cares about his club.
This Arsenal team need a serious squad overhaul. The harsh reality is that half of their starting 11 are players who are not eligible to play for a side challenging for titles. Imagine United or City allowing players like Ramsey and Szczesny to start so many games. You can argue all day about potential ability and how they have performed well for short periods, but in terms of consistency over a season they are simply not good enough.
4) Going into the match, Arsenal were termed as the Underdogs and rightly so. But the fact that people have started to see the Gunners as a mediocre club is the bitter reality. From beating Barcelona 2-1 just 2 years ago to hoping for a minimal deficit loss? The team has been steadily decreasing in their desire to win and the club is surely going in the wrong direction.
5) And finally for all you optimistic Gooners out there – accept it, the Champions league dream is over. Arsenal did score 5 goals against Inter Milan back in 2003 at a similar situation but that team had character and a certain Thierry Henry. The current bunch of players have none such quality and 3 goals at the Allianz Arena? It’s more than a dream.
Arsenal Women surrendered a commanding two-goal lead at the Allianz Arena, collapsing spectacularly after dominating the first half. The defeat represents an early blow to the holders’ Champions League defense and exposes fundamental weaknesses in Renee Slegers’ side.
Defensive High Line Proved Disastrous
Arsenal’s backline held an extremely high defensive position throughout, which Bayern ruthlessly exploited during their second-half comeback. Stephanie Catley and Lottie Wubben-Moy were caught flat-footed for Alara Sehitler’s 67th-minute goal, with Bayern breaking quickly while Arsenal pushed high up the pitch.
Sehitler found herself in acres of space to clip past Daphne van Domselaar, highlighting catastrophic positioning from Arsenal’s defenders. The same defensive naivety appeared for Pernille Harder’s equalizer, with both center-backs standing off and allowing the substitute uncontested shooting space on the box edge.
Read More: Experienced Vet Wins Arsenal Women’s October Player of the Month After Breaking Goal Drought
Second-Half Tactical Capitulation
Arsenal dominated the opening 45 minutes completely, making Bayern look ordinary through high pressing and controlled possession. But Slegers failed adjusting tactically after halftime, allowing Bayern to completely dominate proceedings and turn the match around.
The manager receives a damning 4/10 rating for her inability to respond as Bayern’s momentum grew. Her substitutions failed stemming the tide, with Chloe Kelly and Frida Maanum making minimal impact. Maanum particularly disappointed by squandering a glorious opportunity with 10 minutes remaining after excellent Alessia Russo work.
Pernille Harder Continues Arsenal Curse
Harder’s 80th-minute equalizer marked her seventh goal against Arsenal following her Chelsea career. The Danish striker’s unorthodox but brilliant looping shot over Van Domselaar demonstrated her instinctive finishing ability that has consistently punished the Gunners.
Arsenal’s inability to handle Harder’s movement and shooting prowess reflects deeper issues defending against intelligent forwards who exploit space between lines. Her goal sparked Bayern’s late surge, with Glodis Viggosdottir completing the turnaround four minutes later following another Klara Buhl assist.
Arsenal Dragon
Arsenal Women Player Ratings vs. Bayern Munich: Pernille Harder Haunts Gunners as Champions Squander Two-Goal Lead
Arsenal Women surrendered a commanding two-goal advantage to lose 3-2 at the Allianz Arena, suffering a devastating Champions League defeat that threatens their title defense. Emily Fox and Mariona Caldentey established control before Bayern’s second-half onslaught overturned the deficit.
The Standout Performers:
Mariona Caldentey – 7/10 Thrashed home Arsenal’s second goal after capitalizing on dreadful Bayern defending. Shifted the ball brilliantly before unleashing an unstoppable 20-yard drive into the roof of the net.
Provided creative spark throughout, constantly threatening with technical quality whenever receiving possession.
Alessia Russo – 7/10 Deserved more for her efforts after seeing plenty of possession in dangerous areas. Forced excellent save from Mala Grohs with long-distance strike and created wonderful opportunity for Frida Maanum late on. Her attacking intent couldn’t prevent the collapse.
Emily Fox – 7/10 Opened scoring by capitalizing on goalkeeper error, heading home from close range after Beth Mead’s powerful shot.
Faced significantly more defensive work after halftime as Bayern dominated proceedings.
The Solid Showings:
Beth Mead – 6/10 Credited with assist for opener after her fierce low shot was palmed down into Fox’s path. Involved in buildup for second goal and shrugged off heavy challenge in the 50th minute. Productive evening overall.
Stina Blackstenius – 6/10 Nearly scored spectacular goal when fierce strike crashed off crossbar. Constant threat before 60th-minute substitution but couldn’t add to Arsenal’s tally.
Caitlin Foord – 6/10 Productive display cut short after hour mark when replaced by Chloe Kelly.
Katie McCabe – 6/10 Relatively quiet evening before 75th-minute substitution.
Victoria Pelova – 6/10 Covered significant ground with tireless running before replacement by Kyra Cooney-Cross.
Daphne van Domselaar – 5/10 Virtual spectator during dominant first half. Exposed completely for Alara Sehitler’s 67th-minute goal and helpless preventing Pernille Harder’s brilliant looping equalizer or Glodis Viggosdottir’s winner.
Stephanie Catley – 5/10 Caught flat-footed holding high line for Bayern’s opener. Stood off Harder disastrously for equalizer.
Lottie Wubben-Moy – 5/10 Similar struggles to defensive partner Catley. Slow closing down Harder for leveller after being caught off-guard by Bayern’s quick break.
Chloe Kelly – 5/10 Struggled making impact after 60th-minute introduction with Arsenal pinned back.
Frida Maanum – 5/10 Squandered glorious chance after excellent Russo work with 10 minutes remaining.
Renee Slegers – 4/10 Shell-shocked after watching commanding position evaporate. Failed adjusting tactically after halftime as Bayern completely dominated.
Arsenal Dragon
Dramatic Turn of Events That Led to Arsenal’s Underrated 2013 Signing, and how Fans Reacted to it Back Then
One of Arsenal’s unsung heroes in the club’s rather silent years was Spanish full-back Nacho Monreal. Any given match, the former Malaga man would give it his all. A solid player, and an even nicer man off the field.
Nacho Monreal Recently Narrated that Hilarious Morning he Signed for Arsenal
Monreal joined the club in the winter transfer window of 2013. And more recently, he narrated how dramatically things went down before he reached London to sign for the club. He told Ladbrokes in an interview:
“I was in Malaga, playing for Malaga, and I remember, I woke up, I checked the phone and I had, two phone calls from Santi Cazorla. So I was a bit surprised…So, I arrived to the training ground and I called back, Santi, ‘Santi, what’s happening? Why are you calling me so early in the morning?’
“‘Nacho, Nacho, be quick, do you want to join for Arsenal?’
“I said, ‘What?’
“‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, the club, Arsene Wenger asked me if you want to join the club.’
“I was like, ‘What, really?’
“‘Yeah, yeah, Nacho. Yeah, it’s 100% serious.’
“And I said, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, of course I want to go.’“
Monreal went on to add that it all happened so quick that he hadn’t even told his wife that he had signed for Arsenal.
Arsenal Fans Back in 2013 Had No Clue Who Nacho Monreal was
A boatload of Arsenal fans back in January 2013 didn’t have any idea about Nacho Monreal. Although, the Spaniard had been a regular in La Liga for over half a decade by then, he wasn’t popular among the Gooners.
Here are some tweets from 2013 about Monreal’s signing:
Monreal, after over 6 solid years with the club, returned to Spain to play for Real Sociedad in 2019. After three seasons, until 2022, he was a pretty regular starter. Monreal hung up his boots the same year.
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