Martin Keown tells 'hurt' Arsenal stars where they went wrong in Bayern Munich defeat

Ex-Arsenal ace Martin Keown feels that last knockings of their meeting with Bayern Munich summed up why the Gunners were dumped out of the Champions League.

A 63rd-minute header from Joshua Kimmich was enough to end the north Londoners' hopes of reaching the final four of European club football's most prestigious competition. Arsenal were undeniably more defensively sound in Munich than they were during the 2-2 draw in the first leg at the Emirates last week.

However, one lapse in concentration from a few guilty parties meant Kimmich was given the freedom of the penalty area to head home an emphatic effort beyond the helpless David Raya. Gabriel Martinelli in particular switched off, allowing Kimmich to deliver the killer blow.

Some Arsenal fans would have expected a swift response, with Mikel Arteta's side mounting the pressure on their hosts' goal. Instead, minutes passed with little to note from the Gunners before a panicked ending that saw them opt to take a quick free-kick that backfired and a string of poor decisions from the players.

Keown said as much during his post-match analysis with TNT Sport. The ex-England ace claimed: "It was very disappointing and it was kind of summed up in the end there. Saka for some reason takes a really free-kick when there’s an opportunity to really test the goalkeeper right at the end.

"They were quite flat within the game and there was no real urgency in the closing stages. Hugely disappointing. We didn’t really lay a glove on them in the second tie. It was there for whoever wanted it. I think Bayern came out with that extra resolve, were more direct and they posed more of a threat than Arsenal did."

Pressed for comment on how he thinks the Arsenal players will be feeling, Keown conceded that the defeat will sting but must be used as motivation between now and the end of the league season.

"They will be disappointed," he added. "Everything comes down to fine margins, decision making on the pitch. There was only one goal between the two teams but I just feel as though Arsenal didn’t give a proper account of themselves and it’s just when it matters most, we just don’t seem to deliver.

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Arsenal were knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich
(Image: RONALD WITTEK/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

"It is one of those where you have to suck it up. All the players are hurting, but you have to almost use that as oxygen for the rest of the season because you have to get up again. It’s a huge disappointment for the fans. You want the players to perform to their maximum and tonight it just didn’t happen for them."

Gunners boss Arteta has echoed a similar sentiment to Keown, insisting his players have to bounce back swiftly. "W hat we have to play for is beautiful," the Spaniard claimed. " Six games to go and we are two points behind City. It is a very difficult schedule for everybody.

"We have to go through the pain tonight and tomorrow, get up and come with the same attitude we did when we came here and hopefully beat Wolves."

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