The Gunners came to Germany full of confidence and with history on their side having never lost at theAllianz Arena, but they were second-best throughout as Bayern showed that defeat at the Emirates Stadium a fortnight ago was the merest blip in their superb start to the season.
.
Robert Lewandowski put the hosts ahead early on as
he sprung the rustiest of offside traps before a Thomas Muller brace as well as goals from David Alaba and substitute Arjen Robben did further damage — with Olivier Giroud scoring a scant consolation as Bayern ran out 5-1 winners.
.
Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker said: “They scored
too early for us and got into their rhythm — that was
too difficult for us to go again.
.
“It was disappointing from our point of view but
because they scored early, they got into their
rhythm.”
.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger added: “You have to give credit to Bayern for their quality but we made things easy for them. We were extremely poor
defensively.”
.
This galling defeat is the third in four Group F games and Arsenal are now six points off second spot with two games remaining.
.
However, Mertesacker still retains hope of a great
escape.
.
“We have to win both games and get two goals on Olympiakos, but it’s not over and that’s how we have
to approach it. We need to bounce back and put away negative energy.”
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