Arsenal’s season is unraveling and as they say, you couldn’t write the script. Two defeats in four days have left the Gunners facing another season without a major trophy. Two scarring defeats that have brought back doubts as to whether Arsenal will really ever be a dominant force in Europe.
A Champions League quarter-final exit at the hands of the Bavarians is however, nothing to be ashamed about. Especially when it’s your first Champions League quarter-final in 14 years. A tight contest over both legs was won through experience and quality as Joshua Kimmich powered Bayern Munich into the Semis with a bullet header to seal the tie.
What will frustrate Arsenal fans is the manner in which they exited the competition. Bayern Munich were comfortable throughout the second leg. There was no dynamism, intensity or urgency to Arsenal’s play yesterday. The team, like last year, seem to have ran out of steam or as rival fans would put it they are ‘bottling it’.
Arsenal’s 2-0 loss to Aston Villa was their first defeat in 2024 in the Premier League. An 11 game winning streak that saw them score 38 goals and concede only 6 times. A run that put them back in contention for the Premier League title. All that hard work and yet it may not be enough.
Key players went missing when the pressure cranked up. But for many it was fatigue. Many fans, me included, feel Mikel Arteta’s lack of trust in his squad has cost Arsenal again. Players such as Thomas Partey, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Emile Smith-Rowe have been available for selection for weeks but were not properly integrated back into the team. None of those three were given consistent game time to find form hence looked well off the pace when brought on when it mattered.
I personally felt Smith-Rowe was not done any justice when he was brought on late against Aston Villa. He looked lost out there and a level below the rest of the players. Thomas Partey too was disappointing when he was brought on against Bayern Munich. My point is these players should have been played more to get rhythm and not trying to play their way back into form in these high pressure games. Others such as Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson are honestly not Arsenal quality and I can understand Mikel’s reluctance to play them.
Then there’s the curious case of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus. The two were the catalyst for Arsenal’s resurgence back to the top but are now more of a problem than a solution. One is a left back that can’t defend and causes an imbalance to the backline. The other is a forward who doesn’t know his best position. Arteta’s loyalty to them is obviously warranted but Arsenal’s best form and football has come without the pair.
Thomas Tuchel was very complimentary of the Gunners both in the media and in his tactics. Bayern played second fiddle at home against Arsenal especially in the first half. Arsenal just lacked the cutting edge in front of goal. Raphael Guerreiro played left-winger yesterday and was arguably the man of the match for many people. The LB helped Mazraoui out with Saka while also tucking into midfield. Tuchel played chess and won.
When Tuchel was asked in the press conference just how close Arsenal are to elite he had this to say. “For me, they are there. They are there. If you watch Arsenal in the last two seasons, it’s so fluid, so impressive, and at the same time it collects points. Always something to learn. Maybe what they miss a little bit is experience.” This gives Pep Guardiola vibes when he annihilates teams and goes on a passionate speech in the press about just how good the opposition was.
Is this yet another ‘ learning season’ for Arsenal? Or are they just good but not good enough? Six games left for the Gunners to salvage something from yet another disappointing end to the season.
