Arsene Wenger feels pain of another Bayern Munich mauling as Arsenal crash out

Arsenal were again humiliated as their 10 men crashed out of the Champions League at the hands of Bayern Munich.

The Bundesliga champions were hot favourites to advance from the tie having won the first leg at the Allianz Arena 5-1 last month and they were too good for Arsene Wenger’s side as they racked up the same scoreline.

The Gunners had their backs to the wall but started well and took a deserved lead through Theo Walcott before Bayern reacted after the interval.

Laurent Koscielny was sent off for bringing down Robert Lewandowski, who scored the resulting penalty before Arjen Robben struck and then Douglas Costa and an Arturo Vidal double inside seven minutes added insult to injury on another tough night for Wenger.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger (on the sending off): “When you see the importance of the games and you see an attitude like that I am absolutely revolted and sorry for people who come and pay a lot of money to watch this kind of game. Personally I would say we put Bayern under pressure but we were unlucky tonight because it was 100 per cent a penalty in the first half on Walcott, check on the television. In the second half, the referee killed the game. After that it was very difficult but the referee was very, very powerful in the game tonight. Lewandowski was offside, not only was it not a penalty but he was offside, on top of that he (Sidiropoulos) gives a penalty and on top of that he gives a red card that killed us completely.”

Bayern Munich boss Carlo Ancelotti (when asked what needs to change at Arsenal): “No, I know what we are to change at my club but don’t ask me this. I am not the right person to answer to this question. He (Wenger) has more reason to answer. I am not the owner of Arsenal. I said yesterday, Wenger has more experience than me, he knows better than me. He has to manage the pressure, this is normal. We won but I feel pressure for the next game so this is the pressure of our life.”

Tweet of the match

Star man – Arturo Vidal

Bayern’s Arturo Vidal celebrates after scoring his side’s fourth goal during the Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match between Arsenal and Bayern Munich at the Emirates Stadium in London, Tuesday, March 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Unlike his international team-mate Alexis Sanchez, the midfielder controlled the tempo of the game and was a key component to helping his side ride Arsenal’s early onslaught. Vidal was also rewarded with a brace late on as Bayern won the midfield battle due to the presence of the 29-year-old.

In with the crowd

Pre-match protests outside the old Highbury home against Arsenal’s hierachy and Wenger set the tone for Tuesday evening’s Champions League tie as the Emirates Stadium was sparsely filled ahead of kick-off. Bayern fans caused an early delay in play after toilet paper was thrown onto the pitch. Referee Tasos Sidiropoulos held up play and restarted the game once the affected corner of the pitch was cleared. Despite many fans leaving the match after Robben put the visitors 7-2 up on aggregate, home supporters were on hand to give Sanchez a standing ovation when the Chilean was substituted. Chants of “F*** off Stan Kroenke, get out of our club” rang round the stadium from a section of Arsenal fans. A streaker from the crowd brought the home fans to their feet late in the game.

Ref watch

Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny is sent off during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, Second Leg match at the Emirates Stadium, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday March 7, 2017. See PA story SOCCER Arsenal. Photo credit should read: Nick Potts/PA Wire

Referee Sidiropoulos’ decision to send off Arsenal defender Koscielny all-but ended the home sides’ hopes of mounting any sort of comeback in the second half. Sidiropoulos had initially shown Koscielny a yellow card but after consulting with one of his additional assistant referees, the Greek referee suddenly changed his mind and gave the Frenchman a straight red card. Beforehand, Sidiropoulos failed to award Arsenal what looked to be a clear-cut penalty following Xabi Alonso’s clumsy challenge on Walcott. Every single decision made against the hosts was lambasted and answered with a loud sound of jeers from Arsenal supporters.

Player ratings
Arsenal: David Ospina 6, Hector Bellerin 5, Shkodran Mustafi 5, Laurent Koscielny 4, Nacho Monreal 4, Aaron Ramsey 5, Granit Xhaka 4, Theo Walcott 6, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 6, Olivier Giroud 4, Alexis Sanchez 5. Substitutes: Francis Coquelin (for Ramsey, 72 minutes) 5, Mesut Ozil (for Giroud, 72 minutes) 5, Lucas Perez (for Sanchez, 72 minutes) 5.

Bayern Munich: Manuel Neuer 7, Rafinha 7, Mats Hummels 7, Javi Martinez 7, David Alaba 8, Xabi Alonso 8, Thiago Alcantara 8, Arturo Vidal 9, Arjen Robben 8, Franck Ribery 8, Robert Lewandowski 8. Substitutes: Douglas Costa (for Robben, 70 minutes) 7, Joshua Kimmich (for Ribery, 79 minutes) 6, Renato Sanches (for Alcantara, 79 minutes) 6.

Who’s up next

Lincoln City’s Sean Raggett celebrates scoring his side’s first goal of the game

Arsenal v Lincoln (FA Cup, March 11)

PA

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