It wasn’t be another night of glorious failure for Arsenal on Tuesday, as this time the Gunners were hammered 5-1 again by Bayern Munich to complete an incredible and embarrassing 10-2 aggregate battering of Arsene Wenger’s sorry side.
Going into the game 5-1 behind from the first-leg, this fixture was all about giving the fans something to cheer about after a dreadful few weeks for the club.
The night didn’t start well for Wenger, with fans once again protesting over his running of the club and Danny Welbeck forced out by injury in the warm-up.
However, the Gunenrs started brightly, with Theo Walcott netting a fine goal on 20 minutes.
After the break, any hopes the hosts had over over-turning the aggregate score evaporated when Laurent Koscielny was rather harshly sent off (after initially receiving just a yellow) for fouling Robert Lewandowski in the box.
The Pole duly converted the resulting spot-kick to all but end the tie.
Rather than stay compact and at least try to nullify Bayern for the rest of the game, Arsenal collapsed in true Arsenal fashion, with Arjen Robben firing past David Ospina after some dismal defender from the home side.
Brazilian winger Douglas Costa then scored a cracker as the wheels well and truly came off (again) for the hosts.
Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal then netted a brace, the first of which came after an error from Shkodran Mustafi.
Vidal’s second came after a Costa pass, with the score ending 5-1 and a humiliating 10-2 on aggregate for the Gunners. Indeed, is was the worst aggregate defeat ever suffered by an English side in the Champions League.
While losing with 10 men to Bayern Munich is nothing to be ashamed of, the manner of the capitulation is the issue and once again highlighted a lack of discipline and fight from the Arsenal players
This could very well be Wenger’s last ever Champions League game and it is rather sad to witness such an influential, successful and loyal manager see his legacy tarnished.
However, with a total lack of pressure from an ineffectual Arsenal board, the Frenchman has stayed too long at the club he loves, with his once innovative ideas now unable to rouse the club from a staleness which has frustrated and infuriated so many fans.
Indeed, the move to the Emirates from Highbury was supposed to mean Arsenal could compete with Europe’s elite. However, that project, on the pitch at least, has been an almighty failure. But at least the club’s accountants are no doubt very happy.