Arsenal dealt a heartbreaking lesson in Champions League knockout football by European royalty, writes SAMI MOKBEL
Arsenal will come again. This vibrant team, expertly assembled by Mikel Arteta is far too accomplished not to.
Their future is bright, there is no doubting that. Their present, however, is far less encouraging.
Here in Bavaria they were dealt a heartbreaking lesson in Champions League knockout football by European royalty, crashing out of the competition at the quarter final stage.
This will hurt - the fact Harry Kane and Eric Dier were in the opposing team would only have served to intensify the pain of deflating night.
Yet there’s no time to feel sorry for themselves. They face Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday where defeat would leave their hopes of winning the domestic title for the first time in 20 years in tatters.
What psychological impact will this excruciating night in Germany have on Arsenal’s players? Will have the answer by Saturday night.
A season that had promised so much is at risk of unravelling rather rapidly.
Arteta must lift his players; easier said than done after this gut-wrenching loss to Bayern Munich.
In the end, the Gunners can have no complaints. They were brave in the heat of battle. Arteta’s young side will be emerge stronger from this agonising defeat.
But Bayern were fully deserving of their victory here as Kane’s dream of Champions League glory lives on.
When the dust settles, Arsenal will take the learnings and move on. They weren’t embarrassed or outplayed on a night that represented the biggest test of their club careers.
There was little sign, though, that the magnitude of the occasion had taken grip during the early stages. Arsenal were composed, popping the ball around with comfort and zest, although Kane did squander two half-chances in the opening 10 minutes.
Arsenal’s controlled start
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