Arsène Wenger lamented a dismal defensive performance from his Arsenal team, as they slumped to a 5-1 loss at Bayern Munich that left their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread.
Bayern were magnificent and they exacted full revenge for their 2-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium in the previous round of Group F ties last month. It was Arsenal’s joint-heaviest European loss, ranking alongside the 4-0 reverse at Milan in 2012.
Arsenal must now win their final fixtures at home to Dinamo Zagreb and away against Olympiakos (most likely by two goals) – and hope that Bayern beat the Greek side at home. But Wenger made it plain that there would be no hope if Arsenal produced another performance like this one.
“You have to give credit to Bayern for their quality,” Wenger said. “On top of that, we made things quite easy for them with our defensive performance. We were extremely poor defensively. We were not at the races. When we went forward, we had chances but with a defensive performance like that, you go nowhere.
“I can’t tell you if it’s the worst of my tenure. It will not remain in my memory for anything positive. We have a chance to qualify. It’s a small chance but a real one. We have to realise that with that kind of performance, our chances are at a minimum. We have to give it our all to have a chance to qualify.”
Wenger watched his team fall apart after Robert Lewandowski had given Bayern the lead in the 10th minute and he refused to pull his punches after the latest twist of a turbulent European campaign – one already scarred by the losses in Zagreb and at home to Olympiakos. There is the fear that Arsenal could end up dropping down into the Europa League.
“You know you can’t be too negative but you also have to face reality,” Wenger said. “Our performance was not good enough. We live in a world where you have to face reality.”
Wenger attempted to rally his squad for Sunday’s north London derby at home to Tottenham Hotspur but he said that he had injury concerns over Héctor Bellerín and Laurent Koscielny, who both missed out here. Koscielny was left on the bench because of a hip problem but he did not take part in the warm-up and he was dressed in a long zip-up jacket – unlike the other substitutes, who wore tracksuits. He was a substitute in name only.
“I don’t think Bellerín will be available for Sunday,” Wenger said. “Koscielny has a small chance. We have no more injuries, apart from the one to our heads. We have to focus on Sunday and turn up with a different performance. We are in a strong position in the league.”
Arsenal will rely on Bayern to beat Olympiakos in the next round of ties and Pep Guardiola, the Bayern manager, reassured them that they would give everything to do so. A draw between the teams would send both Bayern and Olympiakos through.
“Arsenal have to be calm and be sure that myself and the players are going to try to win,” Guardiola said. “Maybe we will not win but be sure that we will fight to do so. Olympiakos have the same points as us and we want to be first in the group.”