Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany spoke about his team’s 3-1 loss to Arsenal on Wednesday evening at the Emirates Stadium, in the fifth round of Champions League matches, and confirmed that his team was unable to impose its style in the second half, and praised Arsenal’s management of the match.
With this result, Arsenal topped the standings with a full mark, after raising their score to 15 points, while Bayern Munich’s score froze at 12 points, dropping to third place.
Kompany said, according to Bayern Munich’s official website: “Losing is part of football. I don’t think we started the first half badly, but we conceded a goal from a set piece. However, we regained our balance and equalized the score. During the first half, I felt that we were able to win if we maintained the same level, but we did not succeed in imposing our style in the second half.”
He added: “Arsenal decided the match in their favor. They managed the match well and took advantage of small opportunities. I will not look for excuses, we must admit that Arsenal was the best. We have to address the problems on Saturday. I feel that the players are very excited for the next match.”
Regarding the impact of the defeat on the season, he explained: “The Champions League has not been decided today. We have not lost anything (in terms of qualifying). But we must respond and make sure that this match will have a positive impact on us when we reach the crucial moments in March and April.”
Regarding the benefit from the match, he said: “I hope to play against them again as soon as possible, and we hope that will be in the later stages after we learn from this match.”
Kompany responded to Mikel Arteta’s statements, the Arsenal coach (about Bayern being the best in Europe): “We had this discussion three weeks ago when we played against Paris Saint-Germain. They were saying the same thing. I don’t think any of us want to be the best team in November. We are trying to exploit everything now to build our season with the aim of being there in the important moments (at the end of the season).”
Statements of Manuel Neuer
For his part, Manuel Neuer, Bayern Munich’s goalkeeper, pointed to Arsenal’s deserving of the victory after their superiority in the second half, saying: “Of course, it is not good. We would have liked to win today, but looking at the second half, Arsenal deserved to win. I think we were not fully present in the crucial moments and did not create enough opportunities, especially in the second half. The result was fair.”
Regarding being fouled in the scene of Arsenal’s first goal, he said: “He threw me off balance, so I was in a different position than the position I wanted. We know how they do things in their set pieces, and I think the referees know that too. But in general, you have to keep playing until the referee blows his whistle. However, there is no criticism from my side.”
As for causing the third goal, he explained: “We had to take more risks at that moment in the match. The pass was good, not too long. I saw that (Gabriel) Martinelli was running against Jo (Kimmich). He is a little faster than Jo, so it would have been a 1-on-1 confrontation and a great opportunity.”
He continued: “I tried to anticipate that, but he (Martinelli) took a touch (that changed the direction of the ball), and this touch was decisive, and in the end I was not in the right position.”
Goals of the Arsenal and Bayern Munich match
Arsenal opened the scoring in the 22nd minute through set pieces, after Saka sent a cross from a corner kick, Timber rose to it, taking advantage of a wrong exit from Neuer, to fire a header that settled into the net, which is the Gunners’ 13th goal this season from set pieces.
Bayern succeeded in leveling the score in the 32nd minute, after Kimmich sent a long through pass from before the middle of the field towards Gnabry inside the penalty area, who passed directly on the fly to Karl next to him to shoot a direct ball that settled into the net, which is the first goal that Arsenal’s net has conceded in the Champions League this season.
Calafiori left his mark directly after coming on as a substitute after making the second goal for Arsenal in the 69th minute, where he sent a distinguished cross from the left side, which Maudoyki followed with a direct shot from inside the area that settled into the net.
Arsenal finished the match by adding the third goal in the 77th minute, after Izzy sent a through pass from before the middle of the field towards Martinelli, and Neuer came out of his goal in an attempt to clear it, but he stumbled with the Brazilian’s excellent reception of the ball to be in front of the empty goal and easily score into the net.
