Bayern Munich effectively guaranteed themselves a place in the Champions League quarter-finals and left Arsenal facing the prospect of another early exit from the knockout stages of European competition after the Bundesliga title-holders romped to a second 5-1 thrashing in successive seasons over the Gunners at Allianz Arena on Wednesday.
Carlo Ancelotti’s hosts led through Arjen Robben’s early goal, before Alexis Sanchez levelled for an Arsenal side that improved markedly as the first half progressed.
It was a different, sorry story for the visitors after the break, as a Thiago Alcantara brace, Robert Lewandowski’s header and Thomas Muller’s late strike earned Bayern a commanding lead going into the second leg at Emirates Stadium next month, although they will be without Philipp Lahm after the captain was booked late in the second half.
For Arsene Wenger and his team, who crumbled in familiar fashion when it mattered most, a seventh successive exit from the competition in the round of 16 now appears all but inevitable.
3 – Arsenal have conceded 3+ goals in four of their last six first leg matches in the Last 16 of the Champions League. Classic.
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) February 15, 2017
Bayern dominated possession from the outset, Arturo Vidal testing David Ospina for the first time with a strike from outside the area in the ninth minute.
Two minutes later, though, there was nothing the Colombian goalkeeper could do to deny Robben.
Found by Douglas Costa’s cutback, the Dutchman performed the manoeuvre that has become his career trademark, drifting in from the right flank, advancing past Francis Coquelin and curling an inch-perfect finish with his left foot into the far top corner of the net, beyond the reach of Ospina.
9 – Bayern’s first goal against Arsenal ended a move involving nine of their 11 players on the pitch. Style. #FCBvAFCpic.twitter.com/mMxHLlxzEx
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 15, 2017
Having struggled to muster any sort of threat, Arsenal somehow found themselves level in the 30th minute. Lewandowski conceded a penalty when he clipped Laurent Koscielny while attempting to clear a corner, referee Milorad Mazic pointing, perhaps harshly, straight to the spot.
Sanchez had his initial attempt from 12 yards saved by Manuel Neuer but did brilliantly to control the bouncing rebound, turn and thread a finish between the legs of a host of covering defenders to equalise.
12 – With his goal for @Arsenal (1-1), #Alexis Sánchez is now the Chilean top-scorer in #UCL, with 12 goals (Arturo Vidal 11). Star.
— OptaJavier (@OptaJavier) February 15, 2017
The Gunners suffered a blow early in the second half, with Koscielny forced off by injury in the 49th minute to be replaced by Gabriel Paulista.
Having lost their captain and key centre-back, things quickly went from bad to worse for Arsenal, as two goals in the space of three minutes saw Bayern open up a 3-1 lead.
Lewandowski climbed strongly above Shkodran Mustafi to head Lahm’s cross back towards the goal, a slip by Ospina leaving the goalkeeper helpless as the ball soared over his head and into the net in the 53rd minute.
Three minutes later a brilliant backheel by Lewandowski from Xabi Alonso’s pass took the Arsenal defenders out of the equation and played Thiago into acres of space in the middle of the penalty area, leaving him with a simple finish.
Those two goals proved the cue for a siege on the Arsenal goal, as penalty claims for handball against Kieran Gibbs were ignored, before Ospina kept out a fierce Javi Martinez header.
He was powerless to deny Thiago his second and Bayern’s fourth, though, when the Spain international’s shot from outside the area following a scramble from a corner took a nasty deflection off Granit Xhaka, sealing Arsenal’s fate on the night and perhaps in the tie, too.
Muller piled more misery on the hapless Premier League side by coming off the bench to snatch a rare goal in what has been a poor individual season for the Germany international, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s mistake allowing Bayern to confirm a repeat of the embarrassing scoreline from last season’s meeting at the same venue.
Key stats include:
– Bayern Munich have won their last 16 home Champions League games, the longest winning run in the history of the competition.
– Arsenal conceded five goals in a game for the first time since November 2015 – their last clash with Bayern (1-5).
– This is the first time that Arsenal have conceded five goals in a first leg of Champions League knockout match.
– Alexis Sanchez has been directly involved in 33 goals in his last 31 games in all comps (20 goals, 13 assists).
– Robert Lewandowski has scored 15 goals in his last 13 Champions League games at the Allianz Arena.
– Arjen Robben has now scored in back-to-back Champions League appearances against Arsenal.
