Here’s what happened in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, in case you missed it…
THE RESULTS
• Bayern Munich 5, Arsenal 1: Game report || Match stats
• Real Madrid 3, Napoli 1: Game report || Match stats
THE STORY OF THE DAY
History repeats itself for Arsenal
Like Mexico every four years at the World Cup when it bows out in the second round, you can set your watch to Arsenal’s exits from the Champions League. The Gunners still have to host Bayern Munich in the second leg on March 7, but for all intents and purposes they are done, eliminated from European club soccer’s biggest stage in the Round of 16 for the seventh consecutive season. History repeated itself in more ways than one for Arsenal, who also lost 5-1 in November of 2015 in their previous trip to the Munich. How Arsenal must loathe the very sight of the Allianz Arena.
For about 45 minutes on Wednesday night, Arsenal hung with Bayern, going into the halftime break tied at 1-1 following a solid first-half performance. But then it quickly disintegrated for the Gunners, who gave up three goals in the span of 10 minutes shortly after Laurent Koscielny’s exit in the 49th minute due to injury. A fifth goal by substitute Thomas Mueller late in regulation, the result of some “Keystone Cop” defending by the London club, was the final humiliation. “Mentally, we collapsed,” manager Arsene Wenger told broadcaster BT Sport after the game. Really, you couldn’t ask for a pithier diagnosis from the Arsenal manager.
This not to take anything away from Bayern Munich. The Bundesliga side were brilliant on this night, demonstrating why they are one of the best clubs in the world. The gap in class and quality between Bayern and Arsenal was already huge—there was no need for the Londoners to further widen it, but that’s exactly what they did. Mesut Ozil was a passenger, and should have been subbed out at half time. The usually reliable centre back Shkodran Mustafi had a shocking game. Francis Coquelin was a major defensive liability. What chance do you have when your best players aren’t your best players? Only Alexis Sanchez could hold his head high, his industrious work rate up front being the lone positive for the Gunners.
Wednesday’s utterly embarrassing showing was SO Arsenal. It’s the same Arsenal they’ve always been in Europe. Lest there be any doubts, the Gunners are simply not good enough to compete at the highest level of the European club game—a point that was driven home ruthlessly and rather forcefully by Bayern Munich.
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BEST GOAL
In the eighth minute, Napoli went straight down the middle as Lorenzo Insigne noticed Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas off his line. The Italian astutely took advantage, unleashing a shot from 40 yards out that nestled inside the net as Navas furiously back peddled.
BEST MOMENT
Arjen Robben showed a brilliant finishing touch in opening the scoring against Arsenal, but it was a “team” goal by Bayern Munich:
BEST TWEET
Yes, they probably could:
THE GAME WITHIN THE GAME
Francis Coquelin offered very little on the defensive end before being subbed out in the 77th minute. Small wonder, then, that Arsenal was overwhelmed by Bayern Munich on the night.
HE SAID IT
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis wasn’t too happy with his manager, Maurizio Sarri:
THE BIG QUESTION
Arsenal has it all to do in the second leg back in London, which raises the question…
SIX PACK OF STATS
• Bayern Munich defender Philipp Lahm on Wednesday equaled Oliver Kahn’s club record of 103 Champions League appearances.
• Prior to Lorenzo Insigne, the last Italian player to score vs. Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in the Champions League was Andrea Pirlo for AC Milan in 2009.
• Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski has scored 15 goals in his last 13 Champions League games at the Allianz Arena.
• Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema is now the fifth highest scorer in Champions League history with 51 goals. He’s also the highest scoring Frenchman.
• Arsenal have conceded three or more goals in four of their last six first leg matches in the Round 16 of the Champions League.
• Since 2010-11, Real Madrid have won 34 of their 40 Champions League games at the Santiago Bernabeu (with only two losses).
Stats courtesy of Opta
THREE STARS
1) Thiago Alcantara, Bayern Munch: The young Spaniard bagged a second-half brace in a man-of-the-match performance against Arsenal.
2) Karim Benzema, Real Madrid: A record-breaking day for the Frenchman, who levelled the score and was the main point of reference in Real’s attack.
3) Robert Lewandowski, Bayern Munich: The Polish striker overcame a dreadful opening 45 minutes to score a goal and set up another in the second half.
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