Friday, March 29, 2024

Report: Arsenal 1-3 Bayern Munich

Arsenal face an uphill task to qualify for the next round of the Champions League after a 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich this evening.

Arsene Wenger picked a strong side, with Theo Walcott deployed up front and Lukas Podolski facing his old club.

But the Gunners could have gotten off to a worse start when Toni Kroos fired the visitors into a 7th minute lead, shooting into the ground and past Wojciech Szczesny. The Germans doubled their lead from a corner in the 21st minute when the Polish keeper failed to deal with a near post header and Thomas Mueller tapped home from close range.

There were quickfire yellow cards for Bacary Sagna and Mikel Arteta as Arsenal tried to up the intensity and get back in the game, from a referee who seemed out of his depth.

Arsenal did get forward at times but Bayern’s stubborn and extremely efficient defence snuffed out most the danger. Per Mertesacker had a shot blocked, while Walcott and Cazorla tried and failed to find a way through.

Late in the half a simple Bayern attack saw Lahm cross for Mandzukic who had got between the centre-halves, but his powerful header went just wide of the post. Quite a let off for Arsenal and half-time arrived with a smattering of boos, immediately drowned out by a massive chant of ‘Come on Arsenal’.

Arsene Wenger made no changes at the break and started well, keeping possession but still finding it hard to break Bayern down. But after a Santi Cazorla shot deflected off Lukas Podolski the referee gave a corner to Arsenal, and from the resulting set-piece the former Bayern man got one back. The ball came across, they let it bounce in the area and Podolski headed into an empty net as Neuer came rushing out.

The Germans seemed content to let Arsenal have the ball, looking to hit on the break and once more Kroos provided some danger, shooting well at Szczesny, who was found in no-man’s land again from the resulting corner but thankfully they headed over.

As the referee dished out more yellow cards to Arsenal men simply for wearing red and having limbs, Schweinsteiger fired over from a free kick in a dangerous position, before Jack Wilshere almost ran through the Bayern defence only to overrun it with his final touch.

A Podolski shot was then cleared from inside the 6 yard box before the goalscorer was replaced by Olivier Giroud and Tomas Rosicky came on for Aaron Ramsey. Within a minute Walcott and Giroud combined, the cross from the right hand side was met sweetly by the French international but his shot went straight at Neuer.

It was looking positive for Arsenal but in the 77th minute Bayern got their two goal lead back when a Lahm cross from the right hand side found Mandzukic whose effort from close range went straight up in the air, and landed back down in the net. There was a touch of fortune to it but Vermaelen was left to deal with two players and the visitors exploited the overlap well.

Jack Wilshere then forced Neuer into a decent save after a good run before a deflected shot wrong-footed Szczesny but he did enough to force the ball wide, leaving Gomez to blast over from a tight angle.

Arsenal looked for another goal which would provide a second leg lifeline, but none was forthcoming, meaning they need to go to Germany in a couple of weeks time and score at least three goals to go through.

It’d be a massive shock if that were to happen, realistically the chances are very slim indeed, and the last tangible trophy of the season looks well and truly out of reach.

As the game drew to a close the Arsenal fans sang of their love for the club, even as we experience another defeat, it’s something worth remembering.

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The truth

We were never going to win that game without Gervinho. Wenger out.

Stephen

lolz

SIR BALLS

Wenger has never won a trophy with Arsenal with his own 11 players.

DoubleDoubleDouble

Neither did George Graham.

Glasgow Gunner

Neither has Jose mourinho

SIR BALLS

Wenger didnt shake hands with any of the Bayern Munich staff after the final whistle. Wenger has no class.

Attention whore

Here let me post a comment at the top so people will read it. OOOOH ARSENAL WE LOVE YOU!!!!

SIR BALLS

Not only has Wenger got poor tactics and motivational skills, no plan B, no winning mentality, he is a sore loser also.

He disappeared ran down the tunnel without shaking Jupp Heynecke hand. The man is a disgrace and has completely lost the plot.

Ent

@ DoubleDoubleDouble, Glasgow Gunner : Sluralex has

SIR BALLS

In the last eight years, Wenger has been paid over £50 million , and won absolutely nothing.

Mike Hunt

@aaaaa…who fucking bought them and fucking picked them?

DoubleDoubleDouble

@Ent

No he hasn’t.

GHunner

Its sad that after all this time its Wenger who’s being made the scapegoat for the club and Board’s serial ineptitude and lack of ambition that has permeated the hallways and now, the pitch. If he ever does decide enough’s enough(please, no) i hope he goes to a team and wins so many trophies that we all see who the real cause of our woes is/are.

TomJ

@ghunner. There is £70 million in the bank unspent- FACT, but according to out manager there is nobody available that would improve our squad!! Arsene was lucky, he inherited the best defence in England and had a great knowledge of French football just when it was coming into its peak. if Vieira had not been signed we would have won fuck all and its no coincidence the drought commenced with his departure. Imagine, Wenger could not even retain the league once, even with Vieira, Henry, Bergkamp, Pires, Seaman, Adams and a whole host of other world class players. 4 yearsn… Read more »

Arsene's Nose

Waited hours for this match only for it to be over in 7mins…I don’t even know how to be sad for Arsenal anymore

A Yank

Yet we came back into the game in the second half, and were on the front foot until we let in another comically poor goal… like we always do.

Really, not sure how this team continues to play with their feet so collectively ridden with bullet holes.

leewiz

Totally agree.
We keep putting ourselves through it time and time again.
Who’d be an Arsenal supporter eh!

aaaaa

this is the thing people need to realise before they slate wenger, when the 11 are on the pitch he cannot hold their hands. They need to take responsibility for their mistakes but always the fans go for wenger.

A Yank

@ aaaaa: The odd mistake here and there? Sure, that’s on the players. But when it happens over and over and over again, then you have to start look at the manager who bought the players who make the same mistakes over and over again.

Mike Hunt

Vermaelen should be stripped of the captaincy immediately, he couldn’t lead a fucking herd of sheep. Cazorla was cac. Jack and Sagna only ones worthy of the jersey. Both of them should fuck off this summer. Robin Van Persie made the best decision of his life leaving this fucking shit

Mike Hunt

Jack should save himself some time andgo to manchester now. Robin can show him the medal he would never has won at Arsenal at the end of the season

Mike Hunt

Arsenal. the fucking joke that just keeps giving. Same shit over and over again

RobM

@aaaaa The thing you need to realise is that part of the reason people are “going for Wenger” is because it’s his job to make the players “take responsibility for their mistakes”. That’s a very important part of his job and he’s been unable to do so effectively for the past few seasons.

it's (used to be) by FAR the greatest team....

I’d been dreaming of this match since December mate…

D

Shoulda had Squillaci to shore up defence. Arshavin to help in midfield. Chamakh, Bendtner and Park to provide some options up front. With Santos as a possible super-sub late on.
Or.
We replace Wenger and finish this mess.

scott

What about Denilson ? Don’t forget that wonder boy.

Zeeshan

I don’t think the coming generation will have a lot of arsenal supporters if we keep playing like, our USP now is to be beaten in the most incredible way.I remember an entire generation mesmerised by Henry , Bergkamp, Pires , seriously how wud i tell a young to be an arsenal supporter

Kolololo

@Zeeshan
Keep your kid in the basement and tell him it’s 1998. 7 years of glory waiting for him!

DoubleDoubleDouble

@ Zeeshan

It’s easy, just point out the consequences of choosing one of the alternatives:

If they support Man Utd, everyone will hate them and never take anything they say seriously.

If they support Chelsea, everyone will think they’re a racist and will be shunned in polite society.

If they support Spurs, their mother will call them a cunt.

Mikel Artekkers

@Zeeshan I am one of that generation, but I only started going to games a few years ago (am 17 now, have season ticket) and whenever anyone asks me why I support Arsenal, there is my reason. How I would love for us to be like that again, but this time with me old enough to be at the game and appreciate the quality of the football in all its glory.

Phil

why did ramsey start?? why not giroud?. ramsey offers fuck all, arsenal need to sell him completely out of his depth

scott

Send to Cardiff please.

Gandalf

I thought Ramsey had a really good game once again.

Andrew Morgan

You people make me sick. Out of that shower of shit, you pick the easy target in Ramsey, who, by the by, was nowhere near as terrible as all of our defenders, Podolski, Cazorla, Arteta and Walcott when he was up top. Typical lazy comments.

Remember the invincibles because we aren't good anymore

He was good today. Direct your criticism at the £100k pw man. Theo fucking poor Walcott. Did he have a shot all game. For a fucking central striker he was absolutely terrible, I mean absolutely. Arsenal is going the Liverpool way and their is nothing we can do about it.

typical tantrums

dude! ramsey looked pretty decent.

undercovermancgooner

I don’t think he should have started but more because I think Walcott should have played out wide and Giroud up front.

Ramsey himself did alright, ran 1km more than the team average as well.

Franny Jeffers

ramsey offers nothing hes to weak to hold onto the ball, he cant defend, he cant find a forward pass he offers nothing

Insight

Shut up, mate. Did you even watch the game? Or, perhaps your football comprehension is mediocre. Ramsey was solid. If any, Arteta was frustrating to say the least. Vermaelen got outpaced, more often than desired, getting no help from Podolski on the defensive front. Walcott was nonexistent. He belong on the right as a winger. He’s not a proper striker, at least not yet. Aside from Wilshere and Cazorla, everyone else looked like a B-team playing against an A-team. Why can’t we play the first half as we do in the second half? I mean, seriously, at the end of… Read more »

Scottygooner

Phil, your a dick

Cyril Washbrook

Two observations: (1) One month ago, the view among a large proportion of the commenters here was that Giroud was a failure and couldn’t find the back of the net to save his life. Now suddenly we get comments moaning about Wenger not starting him. Moreover, I am fairly convinced that there is overlap between those who pillorying Giroud one month ago and those who are ripping into Wenger for not starting him today. (2) The Ramsey scapegoating by some people long ago descended into the depths of self-parody. It was a lacklustre team performance. Singling out Ramsey, who has… Read more »

locksley

I agree to an extent. You guys might skin me alive for this. Dont get me wrong. Ramsey is a good talent… but what was Ramsey’s role in the team? He is a winger, or a wide midfielder. What he should have done was run at his wing back, beat him with pace or trickery and deliver a pass(since walcott started, should cross for giroud) or cut inside and shoot. Could he do that? No. Can Ramsey drive forward with pace and beat his marker either in central midfield or on the wing? No. This makes him predictable. The opposition… Read more »

Inigo Lopez

Usual agenda, just fuck off.

DrUnKnMuNkY

Ramsey isn’t good enough. He works hard and plays the best he can but he really isn’t good enough. He takes that extra second on the ball which kills many a move.

zzn0809

Gervinho would not have the desired impact. Wenger down and out

Frrred

It was mental NOT to go all out for the f.a cup game. Wenger rested his star players and we got toast. That’s definetly NOT the best to warm up for a UCL.game.

Hopefully, he’s learned. When there’s a realistic chance for a trophy, go all out for it. Let the unrealistic one sort itself out.

TeeveeStevie

He didn’t learn from the last time we went out of the FA cup before a big Champions League game, did he?

Mike Hunt

He does not learn end of. Same shit mistakes, same shit excuses, over and over

Frrred

Pissed really. We should have gone all out for the f.a. Knowing there’s no chance we were going to win the UCL, we should have played our best team at the weekend, then take the confidence from the win into todays game (regardless how jaded we might have been)…oh well.

We were never good enough to win the UCL anyways. But maybe Arsene thinks progressing to quarterfinals then getting knocked out is like a trophy!

DrUnKnMuNkY

Do you guys realize that the next Match might be the last champions league match for some time. Like maybe a season or two. Man!! Can’t imagine that.

it's (used to be) by FAR the greatest team....

“the next Match might be the last champions league match for some time. Like maybe a season or two”… Drunky Munky aren’t you being optimistic? 1) failure to qualify next year’s CL => 2) Wenger resigns saying he’s sick of it => 3) Sagna leaves => 4) Mourinho won’t cuz he doesn’t rate the Europa League => 5) No money for transfers cuz Kroenke needs to keep ‘profits’ sacrosanct => 6) Even weaker squad next year => 7) Average attendance 30,000 at the Emirates => 8) Sell Wilshere to balance the books => 9) Mid-table in EPL => 10) Scared… Read more »

Remember the invincibles because we aren't good anymore

I watch the game expecting to lose and be humiliated because they team doesn’t show any strength n the pitch. Wonderful shambles the club is in now? Thank you but if you perform like that no thank you. I’d prefer to watch cricket or something

VictoriaConcordiaCrescit

bye then

Franny Jeffers

not one arsenal player would get into that bayern side.

KidKnockout

Wilshere would

Franny Jeffers

really….. ahead of who? Kroos…

superanderslimpar

Wilshire & Kos would both get in Bayerns team. That’s it though.
Just accept it kids. We lost to a better team, it happens. Think Bayerns will go close to winning it this year, unfinished business & all that
And lay off Ramsey already ….

DrUnKnMuNkY

Good players in the team : kos, per, Ox, Walcott, cazorla, WILSHERE, podolski, Gibbs

Everyone else is mediocre. Poor wilshere. For everyone else we need replacements. Better replacements.

Need a new right back, a new keeper, a new striker, some one supporting wilshere in midfield and a new central def.

Andrew Morgan

Right now I’d include them all bar Wilshere as average. All of them are in horrible form and have been for months now.

A Yank

Funny thing is, when Gibbs is healthy, that’ll be the one position where we have depth. But with Monreal cup-tied, we were fucked tonight. Both goals in open play came from Vermaelen’s side… And Robben had a couple of runs into acres of space late in the game down that side as well.

Si in Galway

“per, Ox, Walcott” Mertesacker had another shambles. Lets his man drift away to score AGAIN, no balls in aerial challenges or blocking shots, on top of the ‘no pace’ we know and forgive. Gives away balls with no-pressure passes to the opposition, and rarely carries it out of defence when midfield options are marked and he could easily help out. Ox has had a shaky second season. Will hopefully come good tho. Walcott, as mentioned by others above, was beneath wank tonight. Gutted that Wenger picks him to appease him so he signs, then picks him because he’s now our… Read more »

it's (used to be) by FAR the greatest team....

I still think Sagna should’ve moved over to Leftback (he played like fucking Martin Keown on steroids at centre-half against Sunderland), Jenks filling in at Rightback, and Vermaalen stripped of his captaincy and left on the bench.

damien joyce

I can’t believe he stormed down tunnel, didn’t shake heynkes hand, Arsenal have more class than that Arsene, and usually so do you, kop on please

Fellonious

Seven million pounds a year says I don’t have to shake anyone’s hand. I’m so pissed at my team and thinking how to phrase our grit and desire during that 10 minute spell that I have to hurry. I’m also trying to forget you brought on Robben and Gomez as replacements and I’d rather walk down the tunnel and have the media fucking pundits talk about me snubbing your arse than that. Don’t you know Gaz and Kroenke have my family ransomed?

prinzpoldi

ansonsten gehts dir gut oder.!!!!!!

Jim Jimminy

Apparently tyldesley and townsend are german names. Who knew.

the outside of rosicky's boot

Firstly, lets stop hating on AW for not shaking hands, the guy was pissed off. As was I. I left the pub without even saying bye to the locals. And the landlord only got a disaffected ‘cheers’ (£3.30 for a kronenbourg?!) Anyway, for me, we gave it everything. Our defence didn’t have a great game and I was never convinced of Walcott upfront, but we tried – we pressed hard, we tried to counter quick etc. We were just up against a better team who pressed harder than a Devonshire patriot presses apples in an orchard and counters quicker than… Read more »

locksley

Totally agree. Specially not being able to HOLD THE BALL UP.

Mooro

Glad you mentioned those so called fans. How the fuck does booing the team off at halftime help things?

I had some cunt a few rows behind me from minute 1 giving stick to the players – in no way shape or form supporting the team.

‘Supporters’ like that can fuck off and give their ticket to those that would give their right arms to be there.

Hearing about a planned protest now for the 8th minute on Saturday to represent the 8 year mark. There will be right handers thrown if that fuckin happens.

Mike Hunt

I bet you like Harry Potter

Mike Hunt

Not you morro, the happy chappy delighted we gave 100% to be humiliated at home

Mike Hunt

Agree with you Mooro, 8 minute protest. Do these people not realise we are enough of a laughing stock

Demmyxsd

I totally agree with you. The result is evidence of the gulf in quality between the two teams and not because of a bad tactics or lack of will from the players. They can’t give what they don’t have, it like expecting jOHN tERRY to be a gentleman.

Obi One Kenobe Nil

Absolutely agree rosicky’s boot and demmyxsd. Sadly, and I hate to admit it, but we were not and are not on the same level at the moment. For anyone that has/was going to/was even thinking that we were embarrassed by Bayern…they are the second best team in the world right now on form…sadly I wouldn’t put us in the top ten, or even twenty (although I still believe we have the potential) and on that basis we didn’t do too badly, especially in the second half. Again, this is a Bayern team that will put that scoreline, and worse, against… Read more »

Parisian Weetabix

Mr Outside of Rosick’s boot, it is people like you that make me glad I support Arsenal. An excellent comment, coupled with the fact that your name represents my favourite thing in the whole of football. I would hereby like to echo your sentiments entirely.

Fellonious

If Stan Kroenke was a fucking man of any sort, he would give some kind of a shit about your comment. Which is spot on.

Goona13

well said. Glad that there are people who can see things the way they are.

Mike Hunt

Agree with the second point. He’s a fucking loser

it (used to be) by FAR the greatest team....

The last fucking thing we need amidst all this: a “8th-minute protest at Aston Villa on Saturday”.

I truly hope Giroud or Theo or fucking somebody manages a hattrick in the opening 7 minutes so this can be avoided.

If you’ve got unspent negative energy bottled-up, direct it at those who are at FAULT for our demise: Stan “Asset-Stripper” Kroenke and Ivan “Nick Clegg” Gazidis.

UGooner

We had no chance in that game, barely looked like the home team. Truth is we all expected to lose that one deep down. We’ve not shown up at all this season. Just the fact that Wenger was optimistic at the start of the season is telling. I am a big Wenger fan, and I have said no to every ‘Wenger out’ advocate. But the truth is, on the back of that Blackburn loss- the tide is changing, everyone is waking up to a pattern, it looks bad, real bad. But still the Gunners match on. We bleed RED! COYG

Peter

Arsenal never had a chance as Bayern didn’t even have to bring there A game to win this match. English football is best left to England as they no longer have the stones or players to call themselves a competitive football nation.

Bayern didn’t even stack itself to the teeth for this meetup shows you how pathetic Arsinhole really is.

gervinhos head band

🙁

SIR BALLS

So Wenger, you said we would see a reaction to the Blackburn humiliation ? That was yet another gutless pathetic performance against a team who was barely out off 1st gear. This game proves once again that your tactics are motivational skills are pathetic and naive. This season is an absoloute disaster and you are wholly to blame. Years of selling our best players and buying sub standard replacements – you have reaped what you have sown. Wenger, you was a nobody before you came to Arsenal. Arsenal FC made you famous, Arsenal FC made you a very rich man… Read more »

Frrred

There was definetly a reaction but there was a huge gap in quality btwn the two sides, defensewise (what a brick wall!) and attack-wise they were superior.

A matter of creating chances and taking them. Bayern did that, we didn’t.

aaaaa

the players played with their hearts, just a difference in class between the sides.

locksley

@Frred

We cannot be a defensive brick wall with a makeshift left back and a makeshift DM. Monreal is cup-tied, agreed but the DM is a big problem area. Arteta does what he can, but he is not a tough tackling DM. We are loaded with creative midfielders (wilshere, cazorla, arteta, rosicky, ramsey) and one frequently-injured holding midfielder(diaby). We need a DM real bad.

Fellonious

@aaaaa

We did not play our hearts out in the first half. Both goals were elementary and were totally avoidable. IF, and I say if, we were a top side coached by a top manager who delegated defensive training to those who know best and pulled (and sold) those players who didn’t stack up at the first opportunity…you might be right.

Franny Jeffers

only sagna looked decent that whole game mertesacker is shit never seen such a poor performance

flying dutchmen

I liked Mr. consistent for the past few years, but I’m starting to understand why we are low balling him on the new contract. He lost a yard of pace and I think we could do with a better right back.

Or perhaps I’m just depressed because we don’t belong to to the top 8 clubs in Europe anymore..

vin_unleaded

What game were you watching? Sagna had a shocker.

Fluffy

Only positive is that Wilshere is a real trooper.

Jim Jimminy

Unfortunately we’re gonna have to listen to no end of prats and know-it-alls harp on about him leaving if arsenal dont win something.

goontang

Don’t blame him to be honest. the team is a fucking gutless nightmare. And I’m not sure Wilshire would get in the starting line up. They had arjen robben on the bench for fuck sake. We don’t have one sub sitting there thatiI thought “he could come on an make the difference”. Not fucking one. And its not as if we’ve got any injuries in attack.

garyfootscrayaustralia

Goontang, Rosicky made a positive impact the moment he took the field.

Remember the invincibles because we aren't good anymore

He’s going to so it all on his own then? Tired of hailing wilshere as the only player who cares. Really this team. Unbelievably poor. No application, no energy. No desire, slow speed of thought, second to react, almost playing for the sake of playing. Vermaelean is not a captain he’s a fucking pussy. Sagna was ducking awful. Cazorla had no influence and in the end why was his ball in so bad from the free kick. He’s a fucking Spanish international and he can’t put a good ball in the box? I don’t know what to say to this… Read more »

Mike Hunt

Of course, but how long will he stay playing with this dross while watching his ex team mates winning medals

Arsene's Nose

Spirited perfomance in the second half.. Bayern looked very beatable with a bit of quality which we clearly lack…

Time for serious change!!!!

matt senior

Second half performance was probably as good as we can be with this squad. Drew that 1-1 sadly out of our depth here

Frrred

We actually played so fucking well in the second half yet still couldn’t beat them. Shows how much we’ve fallen……

Ramsey played ahead of rosicky? Makes so much sense arsene….pffft.

If wenger doesn’t somehow deliver us fourth place then I think his tenure might be well up. In wenger me trusts….for now!

flying dutchmen

Blame wenger for letting star players go and not relpacing them if you want. But we weren’t outclassed by wrong team selection. There squad is just overall better than ours!

Tenacious Defence

“Very beatable”? We were the ones looking very beatable, Bayern just look like the model to aspire to: excellent teamwork on attack and defence, hunger and workrate, everyone knowing what their role is, depth of quality in the squad.

Of course that last one will require serious spending on our part, but the time has come…

Mikel Artekkers

I guess the old phrase “it’s going to get worse before it gets better” applies. Even if we do spend big this summer (good joke I know), here are three possible problems: 1. By then we may have not qualified for the UCL and therefore are unable to get big players. 2. Wenger buys shit. Again. 3. It’s highly unlikely that the team will gel immediately. There will probably be a shaky first season. I still think that Wenger wont buy big in the summer. He won’t get sacked that’s for sure; he’s making the board too much money. So… Read more »

Bucks

Depressing. Really depressing.

J0hnire

Won’t be here for awhile, cya at the end of the season guys. Going into arsenal hibernation, may save a hint of sanity I have left. Wake me up if we make 4th.

O2

Wake me up when I give a shit about your hibernation.

J0hnire

No.

Mike Hunt

Yes, nobody give a fuck really

Giroud's perfectly chiseled face

If you’re not supporting the team during tough times too, fuck off.

J0hnire

I am supporting them, I’m just frustrated. Trying to vent my frustration through a bit of humour instead of saying Arsene out or some stupid rant on how shit everything is. I support Arsene and this team I always will.

TomJ

And are you bringing your ball with you?

Last-arse

Well Arsenal tried their best but in the end Bayern had that extra quality. Wilshire and Ramsey were immense! Sigh….

Toure Motors

You mean we lacked the super quality? No problem we can fall back on our outstanding mental strength

scott

and our spirit…………………

Yegor

They were immense because they have the drive, too many players in our team don’t work hard enough! Podoldki is good going forward but shit defensively. The defend as a team even Robben who used to be crap defensively.

rangooner

damn, damn, damn
mcbain, i’m not gonna make it

oh stop talking craaazy

nah nah nah, just do one thing for me..

get.. mandzukic…

goontang

Wtf r u on about. Not really in a cheery joking mood if thats what that was.

rangooner

i wasn’t in the mood after norwich, or manure, or chavs,or chavs again, or bradford, or blackburn.

but now it’s hard to be in any kind of mood about this, and let’s face it, it was fucking bayern. life goes on.

A Yank

Ha… that made my (otherwise shitty) day.

Frrred

A reluctant vermaelen at LB is never a good thing.
He’s not arsenal thru and thru then.

Sell him, buy hummels!

matt senior

Get the mandzukic!

Noooooo you’ll kill us all!

GET THE F’KIN MANDZUKIC.. NYARGH!

Voldermort

Tactics all wrong. Walcot at center forward and pumping crosses in. Wtf. Usual first half of no heart or passion. And 70 minute subs. Arsenal are all to predictable. Oh and a loss at the end, the other obvious outcome. The usual February collapse.

neutral

Too often the players stand around in position and don’t move at all. Then the ball gets worked around between the centerbacks, fullbacks and arteta,,who passes it straight back. I don’t really blame him no players are making themselves available, it’s like no one wants the ball. They did improve a bit and Wilshire showed his class, he just needs to work on his final ball instead of running into fouls he’s never going to get.

I don’t blame the players, I think the team is poorly prepared.

Andrew Morgan

I agree to a certain extent, but this isnt the military they don’t have to rigidly stick to their orders (if they have any) they should be able to react to different situations and think for themselves. But they don’t / can’t.

I think its 50/50. Better coaching and better quality players needed.

Si in Galway

Feels like it’s only Wilshere and Rosicky who are always willing to show for the ball, take it to the opposition, and look to create something. Add Cazorla to that list 50% of the time. The others are all-too-often content to stand in position and hope someone does something good.

Or hide so they don’t have to contribute at all. Theo.

Gunner

Our Defenders are ……….well no comments.

diefenbaker

add the fuckin keeper in there as well

A Yank

Yeah, Chesney is not good. He’s not terrible but he’s not good enough if this club ever wants to win trophies and stuff again… which they don’t seem to.

Oh shit, I’m stuck in a logic Möbius strip.

Remember the invincibles because we aren't good anymore

Szczecin needs to be dropped. Fucking joker he is. Throw the tripe out. Podolski was another whose effort and ability and skill were not present today.

Rodders1971

2 games in a row Szeczny has really fucked up.He was awful tonight,not alone though.I feel so sorry for Jack having to carry these cunts.

helen of troy

hes alright he just needs some competition to improve his game

Scott P

For me, Szczesny has made some pretty bad mistakes the last few games. Still, there have been a couple of times when he’s been forced to make pretty good saves in positions I thought opponents were going to score in for sure. I think his main trouble is set pieces and the fact that he is put in terrible positions by his defenders so many times. Give him a chance, he’s young as anything for a keeper. He’ll get there.

Rufusstan

Szcz is a good keeper overall with a lot of potential.

But, he’s 23. (perspective is everyone sees Hart as pretty young; but is 26).
He’s first choice with little if any competition. He obviously wants to improve, but doesn’t have any pressure on him.
There is no one at the club who can offer him advice or act as a mentor (not sure if he has any contact with Mad Jens or not).

What am I trying to say? Dunno, but I get a feeling he is one of the guys we should cut a little slack.

D

But seriously enough is enough now. If we lose against the spuds…

it (used to be) by FAR the greatest team....

got to get past Aston Villa before Spuds mate…

Stephen

This shouldn’t be a surprise. Bayern are the better team. It’s only bitter because of the Bradford/Blackburn upsets. Anyone who rested hopes on our trophy drought ending with the CL needs their head examined.

Bucks

That’s not it. The difference in quality was obvious.

Andrew Morgan

Wenger did. Thats why he prioritised this game. So your right. He needs his head examined.

Glory Hunter

Lol! So true, we were never going to beat Bayern so no real surprise, it’s the annual February capitulation.
Wenger has no 1 to blame but himself, strengthen the team it’s the obvious solution.

Govinda

Annual february capitulation , well said . I can remember as far back as 06-07 going out of all competitions in feb. If it weren’t for a perennial struggle to hold on to 4th place march and april would be very boring months.

3 points in the toilet

I am sorry but till we are out i believe we will win every competition, i am sick, my illeness is that i am a gooner. I hope that we win every match… Not surprised but depresed… and it is very very sad….

Glory Hunter

Don’t mean to burst your bubble mate, but be realistic, we lost to Bradford, Blackburn, Norwich, Swansea & any half decent team we’ve faced!
We were never going to win Champs lge, we’re just not good enough.

dink arnold

I feel the exact same way. I always believe we will win, in all the crazy circumstances we get in. And sometimes, when everyone else is being negative as all fuck on twitter and on here, we do pull through with a crazy comeback. I’m still hoping we will win away at Bayern. We ain’t out til we’re out. Up the Arsenal!

Only1Arsenal

We will need to dig deep in Munich to fetch any form of a result. Keep Giroud as the CF and not Walcott. Sorry Theo, as much as you want to be a striker, you are far from the finished article.

What

There will only be a loss in Munich for Arsenal

Only1Arsenal

Its been mentioned before but Wenger called it wrong. Walcott stood no chance against Dante. If chelski can beat Barca – who are arguably the best team in the world. Then why can’t we take it to Bayern? Its all Bayerns to lose.

Glory Hunter

Save yourself from heartache, we’re out of Champs lge, enjoy the game but don’t get your hopes up! It’s OVER!!!
Only thing we have to look forward to now is st. totteringham’s day lets hope we don’t fuck that up!

Wenger's Waterbottle

So pretty much the same team showed up that played against Blackburn. Lazy passing, aimless crosses, little movement and shitty reffing.

Not saying we give up the second leg. Let the youngsters have a go. At least we will field a hungry team.

I hate being so negative but its been a very typical week for this time of the season. Same shit different season.

What

Start with Ramsey? What.

Sagna is fcking awful, he really should be dropped for Jenks. Cazorla looks like he hates he chose to come here. Wilshere will be off Summer 2014.

Bucks

You’re a bit late with the Ramsey bashing. He’s put in another good performance. Rinse, recycle and repeat trolling doesn’t work when your wrong.

What

Not trolling, and he had a poor game today. Sorry Mr. Wenger.

Nico

100% agree with Bucks.

Mikkey3D

As pointed out in the very interesting tactics columns, Sagna has to handle too much when Theo plays as a central striker. And yet the goals did not come from his side of the pitch

What

I was talking about him going forward. He has been so bad offensively for weeks. His crosses go nowhere, and the CMs are visibly frustrated with him not making runs inside. He hugs the touchline and can’t cross = worthless going forward.

diefenbaker

i thhought the midfield passed alot of their responsibility to sagna in the 1st half.

Stop Arteta and you stop Arsenal.
Damm Bayern didnt have to break a sweat to go 2-0 up.

Si in Galway

Sagna’s “decline” feels hugely correlated with him having to take on a ton of responsibility (play central defence, run the whole line with no support from walcott, have no outlet or cover when Abou “I don’t track back” Diaby’s playing). And still he runs the line all game, does his best to get crosses in (for strikers who are almost never making the dangerous run for the cross) and defends like a lion. I’m fucking sick of people ragging on him, tbh. If/when he doesn’t re-sign, then goes somewhere else to win things and get paid more, I’ll stand up… Read more »

Inigo Lopez

You didn’t even watch the fucking game, What. I know because of the false Ramsey bashing.

scott

Ramsey is average. Apparently perfect for our squad these days. If you want Ramsey in our line up against Bayern in the Champions League then you are hopeless.

Hassan54

That’s our season done then.. I was ashamed to call myself an arsenal fan in the first half..

Mos

Fuck Off then.

davo57

As long as Arsenal fans are happy with 4th place in the premier league and finishing above Spurs thats what the players will deliver.

arsenal DNA

atleast we survived any red card,i was damn worried!!!!it seems an uphill task now,they defend like bulls,2 players block a shot,god bless wenger now

scott

News alert for you. If Ramsey is in the starting 11 Wenger has not picked a strong side. it’s the Champions league!

Andrew Morgan

We’ll do to Jack what we did to Cesc and surround him with average talent, with no hope of a trophy.

I’ll take a new manager, gk, RB, cb, cb, lb, DM, am and a striker please.

Mikel Artekkers

You’re missing a LW and a RW. Podolski is absent far too often and when he is there he doesn’t defend for shit. Bench player. Walcott too, but even worse.

TJ

Feel a bit sorry for Wilshere.

Jim Jimminy

If only he remembered he didn’t have a left foot.

Jim Jimminy

Damn it, right foot.

Comedian

A lesson well taught one similar to manutd semi where crowd were up for it and the squad lacked brains.for fuck sake give yourself a chance at 2-1 of keeping tie alive.idiots.
Wilshere was the only one for me to do sometthing , everyone else didnt have any movements. Even tactics were wrong , fuck everything is wrong.

goontang

I hope this is a fucking wake up call Wenger. Not one player out there believed we could win from the kick off. It showed I’m their whole performance just how fucking far away this team is really from competing with the best. And I’m sorry giroud, world class strikers do not consistantly miss from 5 yards out.

I hope Wenger has the balls to atleaat admit we were shit house. Doubt it very much tho.

What

We always hope this result is “the wake up call” for Wenger but it never EVER EVER is.

EVER.

goontang

Wengers play book.
Okay so we will put a centre back at lb cos we have noone else, our best winger at centre forward, our centre forward at left wing, our back up defensive mid on the right wing. Looks about right? Lets see how this goes…..

Si in Galway

Anyone else noticing how often Giroud hits it straight at the keeper with foot or head? Hitting the target is good, of course, but it’s frustrating how many times this seems to happen.

Not a big rant, i like the lad, but still…

Yar

I hate to jump on this bandwagon, but is Arteta serious? We’re down 2-0 and he refuses to pass the ball forwards? Podolski refusing to do anything more than jog in the 1st half? I thought the manager was supposed to handle shit like this.

ForeverYoungGun

Arteta seems to have regressed since arrival. At Everton I remembered a midfielder that was always a shooting threat outside penalty area. what happened?

I know he’s playing alot deeper but i can’t remember him having a shot in anger today.

Pak Gooner

I disagree. It wasn’t depressing. It gave slight rays of hope, it showed that Bayern have their respective weaknesses, and be it Allianz or Emirates, they CAN be exploited using the correct tactics and the right set of players. I hope Wenger knows what to do in 2 weeks, really trying to be positive even with this loss, COYG

Andrew Morgan

BUT. We don’t know how to coach and employ tactics and we also don’t have the players capable of turning this around. Its a sorry state of affairs.

Anon

Am not sure whether or not Bradford had the coaching, tactics and players to beat a near full-strength Arsenal side but hey.

Rodders1971

Fair play for your positive attitude Pak Gooner.
Not sure where it comes from but fair play…we are fucked as a team,a squad AND a club while Wenger is all powerful.
Button up everyone,we’ve got a long,barren winter coming.

it (used to be) by FAR the greatest team....

fuck yeah, we beat AC Milan 3-0 in the return leg last year, anything can happen in Munich this year!

for those of Gunner supporters who don’t believe in God… now may be a good time to start!

£oyalty for $ale

1. I do not claim to know football better than Steve Bould, but what the fuck is going on with laissez faire, zonal marking on set pieces? It hasn’t worked all season long.
2. It’s easier to run when you start on the the ground, as opposed to 6 meter deep hole, which seems to be the status-quo with this team.
3. Something needs to change, because this game is more of the same shit, but on different day.
4. Wilshere gave his heart out (again), and I command him for it.

Andrew Morgan

Rumours are Bould is having very little input in the coaching. AW apparently got jealous that our defensive solidity at the beginning of the season was attributed to Boulds better coaching.

Andrew Morgan

This is true by the way. Bould and Wenger had a bust up no less than two weeks ago.

A fitness coach takes the training sessions when Wenger doesn’t. NOT Bould.

Look it up.

Nico

A fitness coach? What about our.. coaches? Primorac?

8 Year Itch Needs Scratching

Jesus!….I think Wenger may well have lost it having heard that!

Hatecrew

Crushed like insects. We are a decade, if not more, behind Bayern as a club and as a team. They are everything we aspire to be and right now we are nothing compared to them.

MERTESCIELNY

Every time I watch koscielny I realize how much better he is than vermaelen. AW decision to give him armband is troublesome now as he can’t drop TV5. And szczesny, as much talent as he has, needs to shut up and start performing

Hatecrew

Kos was at fault at the third goal but I agree that he is much better than Verm. Which isn’t that hard at the moment.

vieira

third goal all carzorla

Jeff

Wenger shud follow Pope…..n resign

£oyalty for $ale

Pope’s too busy protecting pedophiles. Not a fair comparison to make.

it (used to be) by FAR the greatest team....

agreed, all our players who looked like paedos are now playing somewhere in Manchester.

subeyr

Waking up @ 3 in the morning to watch this . This is self torture . Arsenal always letting us down , always .

themaster

Going to get knocked out of all 3 cups by the 3 bees. Bradford Blackburn and Bayern. Sad times for Arsenal. Wilshere will be captain.

it (used to be) by FAR the greatest team....

we beat Brighton though!

davo57

Wilshire will be soon looking for a club where he can actually win something

Sporadigooner

Fans at the Grove were massive tonight

Eric Irish gunner

Ye they were brilliant, sang to the end, we were beating by organised,better team, I can’t wait for this season to be over now, it’s painfull to watch wenger now he’s a broken man

Butter my Arsenal

Nights like this make me sad about everything to do with Arsenal.

vade

The goalie is no good..makes me sic

puregunner

defence sucks….arsene is no more arsene

Imp109

For all we did play better in the second half, you just don’t know if that is down to Bayern’s mentality changing after being 2 up at half time. You always felt that Bayern had more gears to go up.

Have to face facts, we were poor through-out.

Mannoneck

Wait! We lost? To Bayern??
But we looked so promising against Blackburn!
WTF?

damien joyce

10th defeat this season, it just gets fucking worse, it really does. Will Wenger ever get off his arse and hit the technical box to try and urge them on, or even allow Bouldies angry bald head to rip into the lazy first half performances. The only time Wenger gets up is to berate officials, it’s embarrassing. I’ll tip my hat to Arteta and Jack and Sagna, they care, they really work their bollox off, Pod got better till default subs on 70th minute removed him, and Rosicky looked sharp. TV5, Kos, Mert, Szcz, Ramsey look like rabbits in headlights,… Read more »

vieira

rosicky ramsey and wilshere to play out the season in midfield. enough of the rest of them. if not ive no probs with wenger going if we dont see changes. rosicky brings so much to a stagnat midfield.

wiltooooooord

Well that was a bit shit, really felt for Jack even he couldn’t drag us through this

8 Year Itch Needs Scratching

FUCK

Elly

Heartbreaking how far we’ve fallen in the space of 5 years or so. Can’t even find the energy to get angry about it anymore, just makes me feel sad.

KidKnockout

What’s the point in participating in the CL if we’re gonna do is embarrass ourselves. That’s like me entering a boxing heavyweight match knowing full well I have the stamina of a fat Phil Dowd.
Why can’t the board spend some money, surely people know you have some money to make some money. I’m pretty sure if we were to buy Cavani, Jovetic, Hummels and Stekelnburg we could make so much money from shirt sales and merchandise. Real Madrid made back their £80 million in their first year from shirt sales alone.

GunnerDareMacedonia

the only point participating is not to win it just taking the 35 million uefa gives the club if he qualify foe champions league, just making money nothing more .

Gunner

Why Arteta never passes forward? What is his role in the field?

phat

to be fair he was never a natural deep lying midfielder.

Yankee Gooner

Gutted by the result, but that Arsenal side showed quality and spirit.

Tenzo

Fuck. Can’t fault the guys for effort, but in terms of quality, we are fucked. Like properly fucked. Honestly? Arsene has a bunch of good and very good players playing decently, and doing their level best, but even when they’re disinterested, World Class players still produce the required performances. I’m not a pessimist (or a realist), and I’ll follow this club into the depths of hell, but we seriously need some World Class players, like 8 years ago.

Tenzo

And another problem have, honestly speaking, is a lack of leadership on the pitch. Arteta is composed (bar that challenge in the first half), Jack is a driving and combative force, and our captain is? I love him as a player, but the moment he got the armband, his performances dipped. I think he’s a good leader on the pitch without the weight of the captaincy, but with it? I’m sorry but he’s just poor.

Mush

I has thought of all these “clever” things to say on this blog but by the end of the game I just can’t be bothered. We just have to get used to the situation that Liverpool found themselves in (although we never hit their heights) after their time and then go into a period of decline to “sort of resurface” 20 yrs later. Just the 1st goal, i mean come on, 4 or 5 passes between defenders, no idea what to do so hoof it upfield, loose possession then they score. No excuses, it’s just all so wrong for so… Read more »

Bigj

Much need to change. Playing personal, and somein the management team. What about the coach? Uuiuh

Raghib

Well, at least we can look forward to our 4th place trophy.

Yankee Gooner

Tenzo, that’s the best comment I’ve maybe ever read on this blog.

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