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7 months ago
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The memories of toil and falling short take time to be erased.
Arsenal under Mikel Arteta have been superb of late. Top of the Premier League table and battling in the Champions League quarter-finals, feats even the most ardent Gooner will not have fathomed say two years ago. The north London club finished fifth in the league in May 2022, for instance.
That was before two consecutive eighth-placed league finishes. And then last season, although utterly dominant for months, the Gunners were tripped up by Manchester City for the league title at the finishing line.
It is why, last night against Bayern Munich, when Gabriel’s errant pass which led to Serge Gnabry’s goal, and Leroy Sane’s mesmerising run to earn Harry Kane his penalty kick, brought back thoughts of not being good enough when it matters most.
Thoughts that Arsenal still have an error in them and will find a way to shoot themselves in the foot when the pressure rises at its most high.
Mikel Arteta's side have been superb of late but came unstuck against Bayern Munich
After an early Bukayo Saka goal Harry Kane completed the turnaround as Bayern led 2-1 by half-time
Leandro Trossard rescued a draw for the hosts late on to ensure parity in the second leg
But therein lies where this team under Arteta are different to 12 months ago.
They found a way back. It was two substitutes, Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard, who combined to level the score at 2-2 and leave everything to play for at the Allianz Arena next Wednesday.
Arteta mentioned this resilience when addressing the media.
‘I think the team showed a lot of composure, especially after 2-1,’ he said.
‘You can throw your toys away and generate a lot of spaces for the opponent and lose the tie in 20 minutes. We haven’t done that.’
He’s correct. Arsenal should still be feared for the second leg. Yes, there are the if, buts and maybes of the ramifications of Ben White failing to strike past Manuel Neuer after 16 minutes — he should have scored to put the Gunners 2-0 up — yet there is currency in earning a draw. Particularly with no away goal rule, which was scrapped in 2021.
Arsenal also have a full squad. It’s that strength in depth which will make them a threat until the very final minute in the second leg.
Jakub Kiwior, who Arteta started to add defensive stability at left back, was run ragged by Sane. Oleksandr Zinchenko took his place at half-time and brought an impetus which led to Arsenal equalising.
Ben White missed a golden opportunity for the hosts when one-on-one with Manuel Neuer
Jakub Kiwior was brought in to lend defensive solidity but was run ragged by Leroy Sane
He and Jesus, who also performed strongly in his cameo, have the Champions League experience their team-mates, bar Kai Havertz, lack. This trio could well be crucial.
Though, needless to say, it will be some task. Bayern’s home is an intimidating proposition and the Gunners have been lacklustre on the road in Europe thus far.
They were beaten 1-0 by Porto at the Estadio do Dragao in the round of 16, and in the group stage lost 2-1 to Lens, beat Sevilla 2-1 and drew 1-1 with PSV.
Such displays, especially the one against Lens in which the Gunners looked rattled from the atmosphere generated in the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, will not be good enough if the north London club are to make the semi-finals for the first time since 2009.
Elements of why Bayern are six-time winners of this illustrious competition were seen in their street-smarts, too.
After the match, manager Thomas Tuchel made it clear he was not happy with referee Glenn Nyberg’s decision to not award a penalty in the second half after Gabriel had picked the ball up after David Raya played his goal-kick.
Instead of making this point and moving on, he pressed it further with language such as ‘a kid’s mistake’ and ‘we feel angry because it is a huge decision against us’.
All this piles further pressure on the referee in charge of the second leg — if there was not enough on already.
And then on the pitch, Kane’s elbow to the neck of Gabriel and other bits of their physicality showed they are willing to push the needle past what is permissible for their need to win.
Elements of why Bayern are six-time champions in the competition were evident on Tuesday
A controversial decision not to award a penalty to the German champions did not go down well with Thomas Tuchel
It is all or nothing for the German giants, their sole focus on this competition with the Bundesliga title out of their hands — they sit 16 points adrift from Bayer Leverkusen with only six league games left.
So the Gunners face an uphill task, but it’s one Arteta is already relishing.
He added: ‘I am very proud. Now I sense the belief that we’re going to go to Munich and we’re going to have the chance to win it and we’re going to be better in certain areas.’
It is all still to play for.
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