Arsenal’s dream of a record Champions League comeback against Bayern Munich vanished with barely a whimper as they laboured to a 1-1 draw at the Allianz Arena.
Bayern’s two-goal advantage from the first leg proved too much as Arsene Wenger’s side failed to repeat what they achieved last season and win by two clear goals in Munich.
The home side’s width proved a constant attacking threat but it was the unlikely figure of Javi Martinez who thought he had put the tie beyond doubt in the opening half; Martinez stretched to volley Thiago’s free-kick past Lukasz Fabianski but his effort was ruled out for offside.
Mario Mandzukic looped a header over the bar before Fabianski was at his best to deny Mario Gotze shortly before half time.
Arsenal returned without Mesut Ozil as Tomas Rosicky was introduced for the second half. Referee Svein Oddvar Moen opted not to show Mikel Arteta a second yellow for a rash challenge on Franck Ribery, before telling Robben – who won a penalty in the first leg – to get to his feet after the winger fell to ground in the box.
However, Arsenal’s patched-up defence went walkabout as Ribery was allowed to walk into the box unchallenged. The winger squared to an unmarked Bastian Schweinsteiger, who chipped the ball into the net.
Arsenal levelled almost immediately after as Lukas Podolski fired into the roof of the net against his former club to give Arsene Wenger’s side slim hope with half an hour left on the clock.
They could not capitalise and when Robben won a penalty deep into injury time it looked to get worse for Arsenal. However, Fabianski saved Thomas Muller’s spot-kick but with the ball rolling across the line, Arsenal’s dream was long over.
Credit: ESPN