Bayern Munich withered an early storm by the Gunners in the opening few minutes of the encounter, but the Bavarians made sure they left the Emirates with a foot in the quarters of the Champions League. Arsenal will be left to anguish their missed penalty early into the game, thanks to Mesut Ozil’s tame effort which was easily saved by Manuel Neuer’s outstretched hand. It was then Bayern all the way after Szczesny’s red card, when Toni Kroos who broke deadline near the hour mark, thanks to a sublime finish from outside the box. Thomas Muller then doubled the lead for the Bavarians to take back at the Allianz Arena. Here are the three things we learnt from London.
1. Bayern stamped their authority even when they didn’t play well
When the Bavarians are good, they are sublime, but as last night’s feisty encounter showed, even when they are not in full gear they can be the better of any top club in England presently. This does represent a paradigm shift as Premier League, with just 3 different Champions League winners since 2005, the power at the top football echelons has certainly shifted. This Bayaen outfit is capable of beating anyone when they are imperious, yet make wins look very comfortable even if they are not at their very best, like Wednesday. Pep Guardiola’s obsessive tactics have made them ruthless thanks to their physical presence with a varied variation of the tiki taka imported from the Barcelona model. I for one wouldn’t be surprised if the Bavarians go on to claim Europe’s elite crown for the second time running as well.