Arsenal’s trip to Munich on Wednesday evening represented the perfect opportunity to send a message to the rest of Europe.
Well, while they didn’t truly stake their claim to win this season’s Champions League, their performance against Bayern to draw 2-2 was an impressive result, particularly after Bukayo Saka hobbled off early on.
Mikel Arteta’s forward line looks low on quality as it is but to lose his star man after just ten minutes due to a quad injury was a gut-wrenching blow.
It made the way in which they fought back in Germany all the more eye-catching. While they did go 2-1 down, Eberechi Eze’s opener was a sweet moment and then Declan Rice’s late equaliser typified the midfield warrior. In the big games, he simply comes alive. This was another huge moment in his Arsenal career.
Rice and Eze were two of Arsenal’s finest players in Munich. Noni Madueke and Martin Odegaard were a thorn in the Bayern defence too.
Alas, not everyone on the away side came away with credit. Kai Havertz is facing the axe after a poor night in his homeland.
What went wrong for Havertz vs Bayern
Havertz is one of Arsenal’s most trusted lieutenants. In the most important games, it is the German who has been selected to start.
The 27-year-old started both the Carabao Cup and Champions League finals last season. He also started that vital away clash against Manchester City during the run-in.
Then, when he started the Community Shield at the start of this campaign, it became even clearer that Viktor Gyokeres was going to be the back-up.
However, should that be the case? Judging by the form of both players in recent weeks, no.
Gyokeres has been banging down the door to start ever since he scored four goals in four games for Sweden during the international break. He is yet to find the net for the Gunners this term but his performances are improving. Against Nottingham Forest last Sunday he immediately pegged the defence back. He did the same against Bayern, registering the vital assist for Rice with a lovely piece of hold-up play.
It’s the type of combination play that Havertz would have been proud of. That’s the role he usually performs so admirably. He is in the team because he links things together more neatly than Gyokeres.
Sadly, that has not been the case in recent games. In short, it is time for the Swede to start. Havertz’s last two performances have been incredibly worrying. On Wednesday, he only took one shot, produced one key pass and completed just 14 passes. Arteta needs him to improve ASAP.
On Saturday when they face Everton, he should be on the bench, as should another of Arsenal’s big-money additions.
4/10 star faces the bench alongside Havertz
The tactical battle that played out in Bavaria on Wednesday night was fascinating. Taking a leaf out of PSG’s book that neutralised Bayern last season, Arsenal were more direct than normal.
Yet, they were very poor in transition, both in and out of possession. With the ball, they lacked any sort of pace, the type of pace that Gabriel Martinelli terrified Champions League defences with last term en route to scoring six goals in 14 games in this competition.
Alas, he is now in Saudi Arabia. You do wonder if Arsenal regret selling him?
Out of possession, the midfield were bypassed completely. What did counteract that was Ezri Konsa’s role. He manmarked Harry Kane right up until the moment Bayern equalised. This time Konsa was nowhere near Kane. This time he was able to play a defence-splitting pass into the path of Alphonso Davies. It was 1-1 in the blink of an eye.
However, the midfield were too easy to play through. Rice eventually came up with the goods but that was not until Myles Lewis-Skelly was introduced shortly after the hour mark.
Up to that point, £75m summer arrival Bruno Guimaraes had been underwhelming. The Brazilian has had a topsy-turvy Arsenal career to date.
He battled with injury during the early weeks of his time at the Emirates Stadium and there is a sense he is still getting up to speed.
Off the bench, the former Newcastle man has been sensational. He has already scored winning goals against Sunderland and Leeds.
When he starts, however, Arsenal don’t look as secure in transition. It was Guimaraes who started the 3-0 defeat away at Brighton and he started again on Wednesday.
Guimaraes vs Bayern | |
|---|---|
Minutes played | 69 |
Touches | 47 |
Accurate passes | 28/31 (90%) |
Key passes | 1 |
Accurate crosses | 0/1 |
Shots | 2 |
Big chances missed | 1 |
Dribbles | 1 |
Tackles | 2 |
Duels won | 5/8 |
Guimaraes was secure in possession, completing 90% of his passes but his tactical discipline and positioning was lacking, as was his press resistance. It meant Arsenal were easier to play through.
Together, he and Rice do not look quite right. Lewis-Skelly and Rice, though, well they certainly look like the bees knees.
The former replaced Guimaraes on 69 minutes and helped turnaround the game. As a result, it must be the Hale Ender who starts over the summer signing on Saturday afternoon.
In time, the Brazilian will no doubt come good but for now, Arsenal look a much better team when Lewis-Skelly starts from the off.
Source: www.footballfancast.com
