Published 2/19/2013 6:01:34 PM by Shane Barrow from soccermogul

I guess nobody should be surprised.  This was obviously coming.  Arsenal has not been playing good soccer of late and a red hot Bayern Munich came to London and made things worse as they ran out comfortable 3-1 winners in the Champions League knockout match.

This one is all but over as the two sides will meet again in Germany in the coming weeks.  Arsenal must go to Bayern and win by three goals.  Not going to happen with the way they have been playing.

Bayern took control of the match from the get-go.  Toni Kroos smashed home on seven minutes and the mood was set.  Less than 15 minutes later the lead was two as Thomas Muller poked home off a corner kick.

Arsenal tried to rally back and put together a few good minutes before the halftime break, but more often than not they just did not get enough players forward quickly enough to mount any sustained attacks.

The second half was much the same, but the Gunners had a brief hope when some indecision on a corner kick allowed Lukas Podolski and easy header.  The deficit was only a single goal.  In truth the match was not that close.

The Germans would put the game to rest a few minutes later as Arjen Robben and Phillip Lahm blew down the right side.  Lahm put a perfect ball low to the backpost that Mario Mandzukic got a touch on and watched as the ball popped over the goal line.

Bayern Munich saw out the impressive road win that gives them total control over Arsenal.  Clear sailing into the Champions League quarterfinals.

The English press is sure to not take this result well as Arsenal continue their slump.  The heat will really be on Arsene Wenger now.

Print