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Arsenal v Bayern Munich: sublime Bayern expose Premier League elite’s …

Rabu, 19 Februari 2014


Mistakes have consequences. They are part of the mix. In both cases the

Premier League team kyboshed their own chance. The price was paid by

spectators, who were left with a nagging sense of imbalance and anti-climax.

The aim was to see the whether Man City were anywhere near Barcelona’s level

yet – and how far Arsenal have come in the last six months. You can never be

sure with 10 v 11, but this much is clear: Barcelona and Bayern keep the

ball far better than the top English sides.


Arsenal’s 14th consecutive visit to the last 16 of the Champions League placed

them toe to toe with the World and European champions whose uber-charismatic

manager is a younger, more intense, stubbly version of Arsène Wenger. Old

uncle Arsène must look at Pep Guardiola and envy his ability to impose his

vision ruthlessly and at such a tender age.


This was Wenger’s trademark once. From 1996 to 2005 his dream of sweeping

rhythmic play produced some of the best football seen in these islands. It

generated trophies, too, until they dried up nine years ago. Guardiola,

though, has not built teams as Wenger has. At Barcelona he inherited a bank

vault of talent and this Bayern Munich side were Treble winners when he

ended his New York sabbatical. Yet nobody could question his inspirational

influence. With a few tactical adjustments and an infusion of energy he is

driving this Bayern side to new heights.


Within three minutes Guardiola was lecturing Jerome Boateng for smashing the

ball long instead of passing it short. In central midfield, Bayern’s coach

can delve into a treasure trove. Toni Kroos was majestic. His goal on 53

minutes perfectly expressed his talent. Alongside him, Thiago Alcantara and

Javi Martinez were relentless. With this Bayern side we are seeing midfield

play of a mesmerising quality.


European and Fifa Club World Cup champions, they were entitled to make life

hard for Arsenal, who started well but spent the second-half in siege

formation. Wenger’s decision to start Yaya Sanogo, 127 minutes into his

Arsenal career, ahead of Olivier Giroud, was surely borne of the turmoil in

Giroud’s personal life, but was not a significant factor, the way the game

turned out.


Twelve months after they lost 3-1 to Bayern at the same stage here, Arsenal

could at least take comfort from the plethora of chances missed by their

guests. Thomas Muller, who replaced Mario Mandzukic, had said: “We need to

be equipped with our killer instinct.” But for the most part Arsenal’s

blockade held up well.


Bayern had been effusive about Arsenal and Britain’s capital: “When you travel

to London, to such a fantastic stadium to play such good opponents, you feel

joy in your heart,” said Uli Hoeness, their president, while Karl-Heinz

Rummenigge, a fellow board member, praised the Gunners for the steps they

have made in the last 12 months: “Arsenal had no chance of winning the title

a year ago – and now they do,” he said. “They’ve been very active in the

transfer market. The quality of the team has improved.”


This warm glow emanated from the happy memories of last May, when Bayern beat

Borussia Dortmund at Wembley to secure their fifth European title.


They used the same London hotel and sounded like lovers revisiting an old

haunt. Once Szczesny went off, the game was no more taxing than a romantic

city break.


In the dying minutes Muller practised what he had preached and headed Bayern’s

second: another echo of the City-Barcelona game, where the visitors had

scored late to push the tie (probably) beyond reach. No finger-pointing,

please. Sometimes there is no one to blame but yourself.




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