Arsenal crashed out of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, with a 63rd-minute header from Joshua Kimmich enough to seal Bayern Munich’s progression to the semifinals.
The semifinal was perfectly poised after a 2-2 draw at Emirates Stadium last week, but Arsenal have historically struggled at the Allianz – and those problems continued, allowing a dejected Bayern Munich side to capitalise and soften the blow of letting Bayer Leverkusen clinch the Bundesliga title.
Die Roten will face Real Madrid in the semifinals.
Embed from Getty ImagesAs it happened
Arsenal’s troubles in Munich have been well documented, but speaking ahead of Wednesday’s decider at the Allianz, Mikel Arteta expressed hope that his side could rewrite history and seal a place in the semifinals.
A weakened Bayern Munich squad would be keen to bounce back from the disappointment of surrendering their Bundesliga crown to Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen, and even the absence of Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman didn’t hinder their hopes.
Chances were present for both teams in the first half – Jamal Musiala forced a fine save from David Raya, but Gabriel Martinelli squandered Arsenal’s best chance as his effort flew straight into the grateful arms of Manuel Neuer.
The action livened up in the second half, with Leon Goretzka striking the post and Raphael Guerreiro attempting to bury the rebound – but the Portuguese international would be influential as the match wore on, delivering the cross that Joshua Kimmich nodded past Raya shortly after the hour mark.
Embed from Getty ImagesArsenal’s desperate searches for an equaliser failed to come to fruition, with the Gunners collapsing to their knees upon the full-time whistle. Mikel Arteta’s side will be back though, with their participation in the reformatted 2024/25 edition of the tournament all but confirmed.
The lineups
BAY: Neuer; Mazraoui, Dier, de Ligt, Kimmich; Laimer, Goretzka; Guerreiro, Musiala, Sané; Kane
ARS: Raya; Tomiyasu, Gabriel, Saliha, White; Rice, Jorginho, Ødegaard; Martinelli, Havertz, Saka
