Arsenal See Red (Lose 2-0 at the Emirates to Bayern)

The Champions League first leg tie between Arsenal and Bayern started with a fine save by Szczesny on a shot from Tony Kroos in the 2^nd minute. Arsenal then started attacking with purpose and could have easily been up 2-0 before the 20^th minute, but for a missed penalty by Ozil and several fine saves by Bayern’s World Class goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Bayern then started to impose themselves and Arsenal largely attacked from the counter, though several more chances went wanting – a few by Sanogo, in for Giroud.

In the 36^th minute, everything unraveled for Arsenal, as a fine chip from Kroos left Robbin in on goal and Szczesny barreled into him without getting the ball. An inevitable penalty ensued, together with a red card for Szczesny. Cazorla was sacrificed and Fabianski came on in the worst of circumstances, only to watch the penalty from Alaba go just wide off the post. The score was 0-0, but Arsenal faced the most unsavory of tasks – stopping one of the most potent teams in the world (who have scored in every one of their 51 games since the 2-0 loss to the Gunners in the 2^nd leg last year) with 10 men for 50 minutes, with only one substitution left (as a Gibbs injury led to a Monreal sub in the 30^th). They did their job through the remaining 11 minutes of the first half (including the two minutes of stoppage time), but must have known the job would grow harder in the second.

The second half started much as the first half ended, with Arsenal chasing the ball and showing some good last second defending. Koscielny had a nice opportunity on a free kick sent in by Ozil, but the ball got caught under his feet and the shot was easily saved. In the 54^th, Tony Kroos received the ball from Lahm and curled it into the near corner perfectly past Fabianski to make it 1-0. Three more chances emerged for Bayern in the next 10 minutes, as Fabianski saved well off a Robbin shot from close in and then Goetz sent a free header wide, before a dangerous Muller cross went wanting in the 65th. Robbin sent a dangerous shot just past the far post in the 69^th and a ping pong ball almost went in in the 71^st. Ox was subbed out for Rosicky in the 73^rd; another puzzling decision by Wenger that took off the most dangerous Gunner on the pitch all game.

Arsenal held firm from here until the 88^th minute, when Muller got through and headed a ball past Fabianski to make it 2-0 and essentially end the tie in the first leg for the second year running. The loss continued the big Game troubles Arsenal have been suffering since the 2006 Champions League final, when a first-half red card by goalkeeper Jens Lehman (déjà vu) arguably cost the team its first European Cup (they were up 1-0 thanks to a Sol Campbell goal right before the half, only to lose 2-1 to two late goals). Szczesny has been playing near world class level this season, but there are still questions about his performance in big games. His infamous Hardy brothers bit with Koscielny three years ago cost Arsenal a chance at the Capital One Cup and led to the dismantling of that team (with Fabergas, Nasri and Clichy leaving the next summer and RVP and Song following a year later). A few bad games against top competition have followed, including the destructions against Liverpool and Man City this season (though less his fault then faulty defense in front of him), before essentially handing this game to Bayern with the score 0-0).

Ozil was also less than impressive, missing his third penalty in club play in a row, when that goal could have radically changed the outcome, and was lazy on the defensive end far too often. And Wilshere spent more time on the ground after being fouled then actually creating anything worthwhile for the team. Koscielny and Mertesacker did a good job, Flamini played well and Ox was dangerous whenever he got on the ball, but it was another disappointing performance in February in what is becoming a habit for Arsene Wenger teams in the past few years. Next up are two winnable games in the league before a daunting March schedule. The only good news for the Gunners is this seemed like an unlikely ask ever since the pairings were announced and might free them up to focus more on the league and FA Cup in the struggle to end the silverware drought.