Morning all.
I’ve watch a number of replays now and I think the referee was right not to award Arsenal a penalty at the end of the game. Bukayo Saka instigated the contact with Neuer rather than the other way round. In real time, it looked an obvious foul by the keeper but slowed down, no, not for me. I’m not a 100% convinced that William Saliba made much contact with Sane either but I guess when running at speed, the slightest of touches will send a player like Sane flying.
Arsenal’s opener was a wonderful goal from Saka. The way he simply allowed the ball to run across his body before curling the ball past Neuer was just great to watch. Ben White had a golden opportunity to double our lead soon after but fired straight at the German keeper.
Bayern then equalised. Yes, a lovely ball through for Gnabry to score but let’s be honest, what went on beforehand was out of character for this Arsenal defence. Raya was out of position, Gabriel’s pass to Kiwior wasn’t the best and after Goretzka picked up the stray ball and that was that. Kane gave visitors the lead from the spot.
Sane looked almost certain to increase Bayern’s lead as he raced towards Raya’s goal but Ben White had different ideas. Goodness knows how quickly he got back but he did. He might have missed a good chance to score but he definitely stopped Arsenal from going 3-1 down.
Mikel Arteta made a change at halftime with Jakub Kiwior going off and Oleksandr Zinchenko coming on in his place. Later in the half, Arteta moved again, this time with Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard replacing Gabriel Martinelli and Jorginho. Their introduction soon brought reward. Declan Rice headed the ball down to Leandro Trossard, he played the ball to Gabriel Jesus and from there, the Brazilian’s footwork was too good for the Bayern defence, his pass to Trossard was simply perfect – the Belgian’s first time strike was brilliant.
Mikel Arteta on whether he is proud of the reaction from the players after going 2-1 down…
I am very proud, now I sense the belief there, we are going to go to Munich and have the chance to win it and we’re going to be better in certain areas and that’s how we are going to prepare it.
There was a scary moment in our own box when Coman hit the post but then, seconds before the game was over, the was it or wasn’t it a penalty incident occurred. The referee said no, I don’t even know if VAR checked it but either way, the game ended with all to play for next Wednesday.
In addition to the Saka incident which no doubt will be chewed over for a while, Bayern thought they should have been awarded a second penalty when in the second half, David Raya had apparently played a short goal-kick to Gabriel but instead of continuing with play, our central defender picked the ball up, put it down and took the goal-kick again. I must admit, I didn’t see the incident at the time but have since and Arsenal got lucky.
Then there’s the Kane incident. If ever there was a deliberate elbow into the face of an opponent, it was when Kane elbowed Gabriel. Just seconds before clouting him, Kane checked to see where our man was. Kane was booked but that in my opinion should have checked by VAR and upgraded to a red card.
I thought Mikel Arteta’s team were in too much of a hurry last night. Having taken the lead, our play seemed rushed, perhaps too attacking when in the Premier League, we as a team have been calmer, more patient and more controlled. Mistakes the players don’t usually make reared their heads and with it, allowed Bayern Munich to be more involved in the game than they perhaps should have been. Inexperience, naivety, call it what you like but it reminded me a little bit of the first match against Porto when the Arsenal players probably knew what to expect, yet struggled.
But let’s not be too harsh, if at all harsh. This is the first season this group of players have played Champions League football together, their first quarter-final together and they’re still very much in this tie. Next week, well, let’s wait and see….
Next up for the players is Aston Villa at The Emirates, just a couple of days after Villa’s Europa Conference League match against Lille…
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico, a two all draw is no disgrace nor is it a disaster with the second leg to follow.
I won’t argue with you over the Saka penalty claim, although at first sight it looked like a penalty to me, Neuer looked happy to get away with it.
Keith Hackett, former chief referee, is convinced that Kane should have seen red for his assault on Gabriel. Quote “the swinging arm was dangerous, reckless and involved excessive force.” Nuff said!
I was at the game last night and felt we were in complete control until we gave away that first goal, so un-Arsenal like this season. Bayern looked short of confidence but were a different proposition after that. Tuchel was moaning, with some justification, about not getting the “Gabriel pen” but as you say, Rico, Kane should have been off for GBH early in the second half and banned for the replay. So even-Steven in the “we wuz robbed” stakes.
However, I think we’ll need an Ethiad like performance to progress when we go to the Allianz next week.
Morning Cicero, absolutely agree re Kane. His elbow on Gabriel was a shocker imo. Other than his penalty, I thought he was pretty dire.
Agree Anthony, had the White chance gone it, I think we’d have romped home. We’ve been so strong in 2024, it’s hard to be critical over a couple of mistakes at the back. Unfair too imo.
I think we’ll be wiser when we play them next week. Smarter too.
Kane has a tactic that he has used for years. He grabs hold of players and gets into a wrestling match then twists as he falls down and gets his free kicks . Once he had established that the ref was a ” let the game flow ” he took the gamble of winding Gabriel up with the elbow . I could see clearly in the ground that he checked where Gabriel was before he threw the elbow , it was a red all day everyday but not last night.
My Norwegian friends say the Europeans have always adhered to the clear and obvious part of VAR and usually go with the on field decision , it’s only here that we referee games from a shed in the midlands . So all we can hope for is that the same rules apply to us should the situation arise and with Gabriel picking up the ball perhaps it did .
I was too far away from the North Bank to see the Saka incident but it did look clear cut but as I have yet to see a replay ,I can’t comment.
Kane’s other tactic is to back into players, sticking him bum out causing them to fall. I’ve lost count of those but they’re dangerous and I’m glad he and his cheating ways are out of the PL. For now at least..
Bayern’s first goal is for “those caught”. What was Raya doing in the middle of the field? He left Gabriel without a passing line, he cut poorly, the defense and goalkeepers were out of position and he scored. On the last play. Saka was without strength and without lucidity. If the opportunity had presented itself before game time, perhaps the result would have been different.
Afternoon Rico and Co
White really should have scored, a lack of composure I’m afraid.
Kane should have got a red card, no debate there except on TNT.
Neuer moved his leg towards Saka blocking him without actually touching him so Saka left his leg in accordingly so for me a pen.
But not given I reckon because of the Gabriel handball the ref didn’t give earlier.
Raya at fault for first goal, causing Gabriel to panic and misplace his pass to Kiwior, maybe should have just put it out of play, poor defending all around.
Kiwior should have fouled Sane early in his run towards our box for their penalty, thaf would have been the end of that crisis.
Great opening goal from Saka.
Excellent come back for Trossard goal.
We’re still alive in the tie, set up for a visit to Munich where nobody will give us a chance….
Btw, did anyone notice the crafty punch that Jesus gave the Bayern defender fouling him as they both fell over?
Afternoon Kev, I didn’t spot that from Jesus. Naughty lol
Liverpool beaten 3 – 0 at home to Atalanta. Yer gotta larf. 😁
Going to be hard for pool to come back from 3 down
I watched the last twenty minutes of the game and Liverpool looked shambolic both in defence and attack. The so-called Anfield Faithful were streaming out of the ground long before the match ended.
Liverpool have had a lot of lucky wins this season, by the sounds of it, their luck run out, hopefully they keep loosing in the epl for at least the next six matches.
So according to the English media, Arteta has green light the sale of Charlie Patino
Morning all.
New post up, just a site refresher really.