Martin Keown didn’t hold back in his assessment of Arsenal’s performance following their “hugely disappointing” Champions League exit against Bayern Munich. Despite being favorites to advance, Arsenal fell short, conceding a powerful header from Joshua Kimmich that sealed Bayern’s 3-2 aggregate victory.
Keown expressed his frustration, stating that Arsenal “did not deserve” to progress based on their performance. He particularly criticized Bukayo Saka for his decision to take a quick free-kick instead of testing the goalkeeper in the dying moments of the game, highlighting a lack of experience and urgency.
Reflecting on Saka’s choice, Keown acknowledged the player’s initiative but suggested that a different approach might have yielded better results. He emphasized the need for urgency, especially in the closing stages of the match, lamenting Arsenal’s overall flat performance throughout the game.
‘It was very disappointing, kind of summed up at the end there when Saka for some reason taking a free kick [short] when there was the opportunity to really test the goalkeeper,’ Keown told TNT Sports.
‘You just saw that little bit of lack of experience. There needs to be more urgency in the closing exchanges. Saka made that decision in the moment.
‘I admire that as well. But I think he might have been better taking that delivery from the free kick and it might have been a wonder goal.
‘I feel as flat as the performance. They were flat throughout the game, there was no real urgency at the end. It’s hugely disappointing.
‘It was there for the taking but Bayern came out with that extra resolve. It’s a really disappointing night for Arsenal. You just want the players to perform to their maximum but that didn’t happen tonight.
‘You don’t deserve to go through if you play a performance like that tonight.’
Feeling as flat as the performance itself, Keown emphasized the disappointment of Arsenal’s inability to rise to the occasion against Bayern. Despite the opportunity being “there for the taking,” Bayern demonstrated greater resolve, ultimately securing their place in the semi-finals.
‘At the moment it is a gutted dressing room. We are very disappointed,’ said Arteta.
‘We have to go through it. We tried against a team with a lot of experience. Through the tie the margins have been very small. There were moments that we were better, we gave them two goals – that is a big advantage to give away.
‘Today you could see that it was a zero margin of error. We made a mistake defensively in the box, a big one, and we give away the goal.
‘Now is the moment to stick with the players, because they need our support. They are the ones that have taken us on this journey.’
Mikel Arteta echoed the sentiments of disappointment, describing the dressing room as “gutted” after the European exit. However, he urged fans to support the players as they refocus on ending the season positively, with Arsenal still in contention for the Premier League title.
Acknowledging the small margins in football, Arteta highlighted defensive mistakes that proved costly, ultimately tipping the balance in Bayern’s favor. Despite the setback, he emphasized the importance of standing by the players and maintaining belief in their abilities to bounce back.
Looking ahead, Bayern Munich’s victory sets up a tantalizing semi-final clash against Real Madrid, adding further intrigue to the Champions League campaign. With both teams boasting rich European pedigrees, the stage is set for a compelling showdown in the quest for continental glory.
As Arsenal regroups and shifts focus to the Premier League title race, the disappointment of their Champions League exit serves as motivation to reignite their domestic campaign and pursue success on the domestic front. With six games remaining, the race for the title promises excitement and drama until the final whistle of the season.