Arsenal handed Bayern Munich their first loss of the season.
A 3-1 defeat at the Emirates, which, to be fair, is an accurate reflection of how the game transpired in the second half, a 45-minute stretch
that saw the hosts dominate the Bavarians for almost the entire duration.
Bayern Munich is not a club used to being dominated. Defeats in the Champions League more often than not result from egregious refereeing and individual brainfarts. The absences of three of Bayern’s key players in Luis Diaz, Alphonso Davies, and Jamal Musiala certainly played in Arsenal’s favor, with Davies’ recovery runs and attacking intensity, Musiala’s trickery and vision in the heart of the attack, and Luis Diaz’s relentless pressing and tenacity being sorely missed.
However, the fact of the matter is, Arsenal was simply the better team tonight. A loss is a loss, but this couldn’t have happened at a better time. Bayern are currently cruising through the group stages and should still be expected to comfortably secure a top 8 berth and direct qualification to the knockout rounds. The result puts things into perspective for Vincent Kompany, who has quite a lot to work on and figure out in the upcoming months. It also provides motivation to the team to continue improving, since it is now apparent that there is yet another level to unlock before it can be considered on the same footing as Arsenal.
Vincent Kompany and his squad now have a chance to regroup, analyze the mistakes made during the game, and introduce tweaks, be it to defensive positioning, facing crowded midfields, or handling overloads on the wing. The return of Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies to the fray after the winter break (or maybe even earlier) is certainly going to bolster this squad, and Bayern can be expected to look stronger, sharper, and fiercer.
Bayern Munich losing certainly hurts; it always does. But the timing and the conditions surrounding this loss make it more palatable, even a blessing in disguise. Bayern doesn’t have to shoulder the burden of being THAT team anymore. Arsenal can take all the spotlight, while Bayern continues to work on improving itself.
When the knockout stages come around, Bayern Munich will be ready.
And waiting.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
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