UEFA Champions League: Tactical Analysis - Arsenal 0-2 Bayern Munich

Toni Kroos’ performance

Every side requires a man in the middle to provide a balance to the side. With Bayern stretching play, players were positioned plenty on either side as Guardiola identified this as the attacking outlet. But the side required a man in the middle to provide a balance and ensure that the entire unit is tied together.

Toni Kroos played this role at the Emirates, positioned centrally, he acted as the stand point for the Bayern side, with the ball constantly played to him from the wide areas when there was a lack of opening. The defence didn’t punt a long ball over the top but instead played the ball short to Kroos in the middle.

He then started the attack by spreading play into wide areas. It didn’t seem like a highlight role to play, but it was arguably the most vital role in the side. In fact, one will go as far as saying that Kroos was the main man for Bayern, the most important player which was reflected in his man of the match performance.

Kroos didn’t venture forward often (except for a couple of runs wide in the first half), forcing himself to resist the temptation, but when that gap did open up as Bayern players pulled the Arsenal defence into wide areas, Kroos identified the opportunity and made calculated runs into the area.

As the game wore on this gap kept growing and was a regular feature, Kroos thus looked to take advantage as much as possible. The space allowed him enough time to get a sweet strike on goal, as he did early on in the match being denied by a superb Sczcesny save, eventually rewarded with a goal in the second and denied by the post late on.

Those three opportunities were the only 3 shots he took on goal out of 5 attempted ones, the highest on the pitch. He even created 3 goal-scoring opportunities, including the one leading up to the sending off. He didn’t have much to do defensively with Arsenal pegged back, his positioning though was vital for the outcome. He did manage to make 2 interceptions.

His passing, as mentioned, was an important factor in Bayern’s approach. The 24-year-old completed 152 passes (the entire Arsenal side completed 222 passes) at a 97% completion rate. A remarkable performance from the German.

Koscielny run proves costly

Arsenal were doing a superb job of keeping Bayern Munich at bay with 10 men for the entire second half. Bayern although in control, had just one plan and it failed to breach the Arsenal defence who were disciplined in their approach. From Sanogo till the back four, the entire side was set up to prevent Bayern from getting more on the scoresheet. There wasn’t much in terms of a counter option from the London club.

But there was a moment in the second half, cheered on by the Arsenal fans in the stadium as Laurent Koscielny showed immense heart and determination, fueled from pure frustration as he blocked a Bayern attack and took the resulting ball and ran at the Germans. Realising he couldn’t possibly dribble past three-four Bayern players, he drew a foul on the half-way line and made his way further forward, along with a few other Arsenal players.

The Arsenal midfield naturally moved further up, tempted by the chance of playing in the attacking half, along with Sanogo. It was arguably the only moment for the last 30-40 minutes of the game where Arsenal actually ventured forward, even in the slightest. It was the first period in the match where Bayern could attack a defence that wasn’t as compact.

Arsenal took the free-kick from the half-way line and quickly lost possession, Neuer identified the opportunity quickly getting the ball forward. While Bayern still lacked the urgency in their attack, they were able to take advantage of the comparitive lack of personnel in defence.

A gap opened up in the heart of the Arsenal defence, Lahm playing a pinpoint pass to that area allowing substitute Muller to score the second. That gap opened up due to fact that Koscienly wasn’t able to get back into position in time from his attacking run. Kocienly was instead at the edge of the box with Flamini occupying his position, and was unable to prevent the goal, with the Bayern movement proving to be decisive.

It’s these small incidents that big sides take advantage of, and Bayern Munich made no mistake. At 1-0 Arsenal still had hope, and despite their result at the Allianz Arena last season, 2-0 will be difficult. That second goal could make the World of difference and it showed on Guardiola’s face, he identified the need for two away goals and that little run from Koscielny proving to be costly. This was just a small blip in Koscielny’s performance, who was excellent, but at this level it’s these sort of small errors that prove decisive.