Outgunned Arsenal fall flat again
It was perhaps the most galling aspect of a game that makes it virtually impossible for his side to stay in the Champions League past the second leg.
Wenger’s furious Monday press conference, after all, at least demanded a similar reaction from his squad: a siege mentality and emotional response to a season that has — once again — threatened to tailspin.
By the seventh minute, though, we had already seen so many of the problems that have gradually eroded this regime over the past eight years. Despite a suggestion that they might produce something amounting to a big performance in the opening exchanges, the incidents leading up to Toni Kroos’s otherwise exceptionally-taken goal illustrated a team that spill blood far too easily and have no thunder about them.
No-one went out to try and meet Thomas Müller’s cross, Aaron Ramsey’s attempt at a clearance was atrociously limp and Laurent Koscielny’s expected interception was simply lacking.
These were not the signs of a team desperately and defiantly trying to save their season. They were further hallmarks of a crumbling regime.
Even the otherwise impressive second-half spell that brought a Thomas Vermaelen goal, before Mario Mandzukic finally killed the game — and probably the tie — off, only actually betrayed the deeper problems with this team.
They only get going when the damage is already done; in short, when it’s easy.
The supposedly admirable 3-0 second-leg comeback against Milan at this stage last season was an earlier case in point. Arsenal only played when the tie was already all but over. And, then, when they actually got close to the task in hand and threatened to properly turn over that the Italians’ 4-0 first-leg lead, they disappointingly faded.
Wenger was allowed to point to the promise of the display, but it summed up the last eight years: a slight suggestion of a better future, but never the key breakthrough to go with it; a club in stasis.
On it goes.
Because this game, meanwhile, emphasised the fact that Arsenal are only the suggestion of a top team.
Sure, there are undeniably good players in it, and you can see the vague idea of the shape Wenger has for them.
But, within all that, there is nothing really holding them together; no cohesion; no gumption. And, without the kind of backbone his teams regularly showed between 1997 and 2005, they can’t even dream of attempting to overcome a 3-1 away-goal lead.
Indeed, the history of the competition proves that. Since 1955, only seven teams have gone through a round after losing the first leg at home.
There might be some hope in the fact the last team to succumb to such a situation were actually Bayern Munich themselves in the 2010-11 season against Inter Milan. In truth, though, this is a German side that has enjoyed a quantum leap since then.
Indeed, the most deadening reality check for Wenger should be the fact that it is Bayern that have actually taken on all the lessons they were supposed to have learned over the past few years. Jupp Heynckes’ side have added admirably passing to their pressing game, they have continuously evolved the team and illustrated the ambition that keeps top players.
They are arguably the closest side to Barcelona at present.
As a consequence, it can’t be denied that there was a significant gulf in quality last night.
What is most troubling for Arsenal, though, is that they never illustrated the necessary fire to even begin to bridge that gap.
It also again invites questions about Arsenal’s entire policy. Wenger may preach the benefit of pouring all available resources into the Champions League chase at the expense of trophies like the FA Cup, but what is the point of that if it only produces instantly forgettable exits in the last 16?
People remember moments like the 1979 FA Cup final. They don’t remember performances like that — unless, that is, it is to signal the rise of excellent sides like Bayern.
For Wenger, that should be the most maddening aspect of all.
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