Arsenal’s attempt to fight back against Bayern Munich after their 2-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium never really got off the ground as the hosts enjoyed a fairly comfortable night in Munich.
Bayern Munich vs. Arsenal: Final score 1-1, Arsenal comeback effort fails to materialise
Arsenal never looked like overturning their first-leg deficit as they crashed out to a comfortable Bayern Munich after a 1-1 draw at the Allianz Arena. Bastian Schweinsteiger opened the scoring for Bayern before Lukas Podolski scored a consolation for the visitors.
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The scoreline does perhaps not do Bayern’s dominance justice, as the hosts completely controlled most of the game, although they could only find one goal through Schweinsteiger before Lukas Podolski scored an immediate reply, but Arsenal could not find their way into the tie proper. Thomas Muller missed a late penalty that could have helped his side win the game.
It was Arsenal who needed the goals, but Bayern casually dominated the first half, with Arsenal having to work phenomenally hard just to tread water. Chances were few and far between, however, the first coming when Franck Ribery did superbly to pick out Arjen Robben, but the Dutchman blasted his shot into the ground and Arsenal survived.
Bayern then appeared to take the lead after Javi Martinez got on the end of Thiago's excellent free kick, but the goal was rightly ruled out for offside. Arjen Robben and Mario Mandzukic both went close as Bayern remained well on top and it became increasingly difficult to see the visitors getting into the game. Mario Gotze had a decent chance just before half-time but his volley was too close to Lukasz Fabianski.
Arsenal used half-time to withdraw Mesut Ozil due to a hamstring injury, but they were lucky to get away with two borderline offences in the opening minutes of the second half -- first Mikel Arteta scythed down Ribery yet avoided a second yellow, before Robben demanded a penalty after being brought to the turf in the area just afterwards. Both calls were denied.
Eventually, however, Arsenal could hold them off no longer and Bayern found their opener. It was nothing unusual -- the same moves they’d been doing all game -- but it was bound to come off eventually. Ribery advanced carefully into the area and, in the absence of an incoming tackle, was able to pick out the onrushing Schweinsteiger to finish smartly.
Yet just as Bayern scored, Arsenal seemed to find another gear -- indeed, they created more chances in the following few minutes than they had in the whole tie up until that point. Philipp Lahm was tracking back toward his own goal while competing with Podolski before the full-back hit the turf -- no foul was called against the striker, however, and he bore down on Manuel Neuer's goal before blasting a brilliant finish past his compatriot from a tight angle.
Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla both then came close to penetrating a suddenly shaky-looking Bayern backline, but the hosts really ought to have put Arsenal away for good just afterwards. A fine ball from Schweinsteiger opened up the Arsenal defence, but Thiago and Mandzukic both contrived to pass up clear shooting chances and Arsenal lived to fight on.
Bayern had the chance to win the game as well as the tie late on with a late penalty when Laurent Koscielny brought down Robben, but Lukasz Fabianski kept his effort out with relative ease. Arsenal then charged forward looking for a goal, but Giroud was not clinical enough to finish and Bayern held on for the win.
Despite the momentary nerviness caused by Podolski, it proved to be just that -- momentary. Arsenal could not truly threaten Bayern again, and the hosts closed out a fairly comfortable victory which sees them through to the next stage. Arsenal were, in truth, pretty poor in both legs, and although Bayern didn’t exactly bring their A-game either, it proved to be more than enough.
Bayern Munich: Neuer, Lahm, Javi Martinez, Dante, Alaba, Robben, Schweinsteiger, Thiago, Ribery (Muller 85’), Gotze (Kroos 59’), Mandzukic.
Goals: Podolski 57’
Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Cazorla, Arteta (Gnabry 77’), Oxlade-Chamberlain, Podolski, Ozil (Rosicky 46’), Giroud.
Goals: Schweinsteiger 55’
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