Mikel Arteta digs at Bayern Munich's approach in Champions League win
- Arsenal knocked out of Champions League quarter-finals by Bayern Munich
- Single goal from Joshua Kimmich decided the second leg and the overall tie
- Mikel Arteta suggested German giants didn't playtheir usual game to get through
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta accused Bayern Munich of not playing like they usually do in order to reach the Champions League semi-finals at the Gunners' expense on Wednesday night.
The tie was delicately balanced at 2-2 on aggregate following the first leg at the Emirates Stadium last week and Bayern held a slight advantage heading into the return game at home.
But German giants were under pressure not to lose, having relinquished their 11-year stranglehold on the Bundesliga over the weekend when Bayer Leverkusen wrapped up the title with five games to spare. Despite some of the best attacking players in Europe, they were inhibited and Arsenal struggled to break the lines to create chances. In the end, Joshua Kimmich scored the only goal of the night in the 63rd minute, which was enough for Bayern to edge through.
"Credit to the opponent, it's very difficult to break opponents down, especially when they play the manner that they play, which they never do," Arteta said.
"But we had our moments, especially in the first half. In the second half, we struggled a little bit more to keep that rhythm, that momentum. With the changes we tried, in a different way."
Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel, who will leave the club at the end of the season but could yet land his second career Champions League triumph, admitted that Bayern didn't play at their best.
"It was a chess game in the first half. Nobody wanted to make the first mistake," he said. "We encouraged the team at half-time to show a bit more personality, a bit more courage. We were more fluid and played a fantastic second half. We deserved to win."
Bayern will now face Real Madrid over two semi-final legs on 30 April and 8 May. If they make it through that difficult tie, the final would then be either a repeat of the 2013 showpiece against Borussia Dortmund or the 2020 edition against Paris Saint-Germain.
For Arsenal, their sole remaining target for the season is ending a 20-year wait for the Premier League title. The Gunners sit second in the table, two points behind Manchester City, after losing ground when they were beaten by Aston Villa at the Emirates last weekend. Six games remain.
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