Nowhere left to hide

Arsenal 1 Bayern Munich 3

After 16 years in north London, which have included some of the great moments in the club’s history, Wenger hit a new low in the build up to this fixture when his out-of-character rant at journalists appeared to show he was feeling the pressure of a string of frustrating results.

Those, of course, have included a defeat to League Two Bradford City in the Capital One Cup and a miserable exit in the FA Cup against Championship side Blackburn Rovers.

Now add in a convincing home defeat against German giants Bayern and Arsenal, barring a miracle in the second leg in Munich on March 13, now have only a battle to finish in the top four to focus on for the next three months.

If the knives were out for Wenger before this game — and there were certainly a large number of Arsenal fans backing a ‘Wenger out’ campaign on the internet — they are unlikely to be withdrawn now, no matter how disrespectful that may be to a man who all but invented the modern Arsenal.

Midfielder Jack Wilshere attempted to head off any revolt by insisting the players were to blame for this latest setback. But he was hardly convincing.

“I don’t think it’s anything to do with the manager,” he said. “He puts us on the pitch but it’s up to us to perform. The players will take responsibility. The manager has been here 16 years and done a good job. For me you can’t question him. The players here are man enough to take it.”

The question of course is whether Wenger is willing to take it; because Arsenal legend Bob Wilson, who has been both goalkeeper and coach at the club, fears for the Frenchman’s future, saying: “There has to be a time when he says, ‘Is this beyond me? At the age I am, am I really prepared to take the criticism, flak and frankly disrespect that I have been shown’?”

It is not difficult to sense the incredulity in Wilson’s tone; and he is understandably protective of a man who has done so much for Arsenal. But sadly the first half against Bayern showed the current Arsenal team are a long way off the quality needed to be real contenders in Europe.

In fairness there was no lack of effort from the home players, who hurtled around the pitch buoyed by a vibrant atmosphere, but the gulf in confidence, class and tactical awareness between the sides was rubber-stamped inside the opening 20 minutes as Bayern took a two-goal lead.

The first, after just seven minutes, came when Thomas Mueller was given far too much space to cross from the right, and Toni Kroos volleyed a shot into the ground and past Wojciech Szczesny in a flash.

The second, 14 minutes later, was even worse from a defensive point of view as Daniel van Buyten was left unmarked from a corner; and when Szczesny could only parry his header straight to Mueller the result was inevitable — 2-0 to the Germans and a deathly hush at the Emirates.

By half time it could have been four — and certainly should have been three because Mario Mandzukic’s headed chance was an excellent one; and there were boos from some sections of the ground as Arsenal headed for the tunnel with their season in tatters.

At least they came out fighting after the break, reducing the deficit when Lukas Podolski headed home from a corner with goalkeeper Manuel Neuer seemingly asleep in the 55th minute.

They could even have equalised if substitute Olivier Giroud had not shot straight at the keeper following a flowing move; but in truth the Germans were always a class above and rubber-stamped their victory with a goal superbly crafted by Arjen Robben and the overlapping Philipp Lahm and then finished with a huge slice of luck from Mandzukic.

For Arsenal, who lacked leadership at the back and who relied almost entirely on Jack Wilshere to provide drive from midfield, it was a sobering moment. So where does Arsene Wenger go from here?

Subs for Arsenal: Rosicky for Ramsey and Giroud for Podolski both 71

Subs for Bayern Munich: Robben for Ribery 63, Gustavo for Kroos 73, Gomez for Mandzukic 78.

Referee: Svein Oddvar Moen (Norway).