PROUD OF MY PLAYERS BUT WE ARE NOT LEVELS | Bayern 1- 0 Arsenal Reaction

It's happened again. It's happened again. Champions of Europe will never sing that. 102 years of the Champions League, people, before it moves on to its new format and Arsenal have failed to win it. We failed to get into the semi-finals. If you don't laugh, you'll cry, people. At the end of the day, the dream is free. The hustle is sold separately. Winning, losing, defeat, victory, it all comes with football and we have to ride the highs and soldier the lows, people. As you would have known, Bayern Munich have dumped us out of the quarter-finals and it is what it is. They've dumped us out. They won 1-0 on the night in the second leg. The first leg, it's been and gone. Obviously, we can see the two silly goals and I don't know what to say. I'm not going to say I'm proud. I'm definitely not going to say I'm proud of my boys but in a weird way, I kind of am. I think we've given a half-decent account of ourselves as we've returned to the Champions League. We haven't been embarrassed. We haven't been battered. Yes, we've gone out and all the fans in the footballing universe are bantering us but we haven't been destroyed by Bayern Munich. In many ways, in some regards, we've been the better team across two legs. Now, I don't necessarily believe that because it's tournament football. It's about going through. You look at Real Madrid. They're the kings of the Champions League and we're never going to be in their realm. We're definitely far away from winning the trophy but how many times have they looked like they're going out, like they're about to kiss death in terms of defeat and they make it happen. City were better than them but them players look around and they know that when there's not a reason to be optimistic, they get it done. Now, is that because they've got better players? They've got mentality. They've got different sort of tactics, experienced players. It probably is a mixture of all and you know, games like this or in the Premier League seasons like this year and last year, you get to see the upward trajectory we're on. You get to see the level we're at and you need to see the level to aspire to. You know, you can look at Bayern Munich's Bundesliga form and have optimism. Of course you can because I do think that's played a part with us kind of matching them more than we've ever done in recent years but at the same time, it's still Bayern Munich. Experience can be overstated but it can never be overrated and you saw it in that game and it was disappointing because I won't quite say we lacked belief and I won't quite say we looked fearful but for me, we looked in between. It looked like we didn't truly believe at their place that we could get it done and it looked like we, you know, and it looked like there was a bit of nerves and you know, for the large part, we had possession and all of that but it doesn't mean anything. You've got to take your moments and again, you know, the last three games now in all comps, we've conceded some disappointing goals. The two against Bayern Munich were shambolic at the Emirates and that probably tells a tale of things to come. Obviously, to get the goal conceded last night from a Bayern Munich perspective, it was quality really. You know, it started on the left. Benjamin White's not closed down his man. You know, the ball's come in. Declan Rice, Martinelli's not followed his man. Tommy Assu is flat-footed. Potentially, Ryan's positioning should be better. Kimmich is one of the smallest players on that football pitch. Credit to him. He's a very big player. Would love him at the Emirates. If one of the smallest people score a header, you haven't done the right thing. So we've switched off at a moment you can't afford to switch off, if I'm completely honest with you. And I personally think it's a mixture of things. I don't think the belief is necessarily there to overcome moments like this. I do think it looked like there's a bit of tiredness in that regard with all our players. I do think the core nucleus of the 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 players, they do look a bit spent. I think, you know, we've got a great system and players that fit into the system, but Arteta needs to promote that healthy randomness and individual brilliance and individual moments. We don't have that in our squad. We don't promote situations to do that, in my opinion. And we don't have them kind of players. And I do think, you know, in terms of being challengers for the Premier League and giving a good account of ourselves in the Champions League, we've kind of, you know, drew as much blood from this stone as we can, really. There needs to be some reinforcements. I would say, you know, we win, lose and draw together. I thought Jorginho was one of the better players. I think Tomiasu copped generally well with Sane, but there's no point waffling about two players. And we don't understand fine margins in the last three games, whether it's been Benjamin White against Bayern Munich at the Emirates, whether it was Trossart against Aston Villa, or whether it was Martinelli against Bayern Munich. You know, when you have these one chances, I'll never criticise a player for not just scoring, but you need to take these opportunities or we need to have players that can. And I think you, I say on a couple of occasions, personally, I think you sign up for games and performances like this as a by-product of what you don't do in the market. I was really disappointed by the lack of consistent play in central areas. Our joy was really coming from wide areas and with fashion and opportunities. Off-topic, I feel some of our players probably being a bit too precise with trying to take efforts, really and truly. I think Jorginho did what he could. I think Rice looked a bit out of his depth in that eighth role, if I'm honest with you. But yeah, Jorginho just hasn't got the legs and if Jorginho's not on the ball, we're an issue. So I was a bit shocked with that. And I would say for Mikel Arteta, there's obviously been times you've tweaked things, but Arteta, one thing I love about him, he can plan for something. Many variables make innovative game plans, but it just feels like for the game plan, when we go into the game and certain variables are not what we thought, that's where we struggle and there's no real solutions, really. Clearly, we need some central midfielders. We definitely need another wide man that has pace and can bring something else to the table. And I'll never criticise a player for not scoring one chance, but chance creation is one thing which we didn't do and that needs to be addressed and taking your chance. And we don't have that clinical man. And as I said, I think, you know, for the young players that are still developing, for the experienced players, for the purple patch players, you know, I think they've reached their limit potentially, if I'm honest with you. You know, we need to do stuff in the transfer market. And as I said, it feels like we've squeezed the juice out of the core players. The players look out of steam. Mikel Arteta did say we've got one of the Finnish squads in the Premier League and maybe that's come to haunt us. So do we have the tools? Have we put our best foot forward to be able to get to the semi-finals? It feels like one where you can take some positives over the last two games against Bayern Munich, but it's a case of what if? Because I don't feel we truly believe we could get there. I don't feel we really created or took any real chances. I don't really feel we made Bayern Munich necessarily work. Fair enough in the first leg, you could say that. As I said, people, looking at my notes, I don't think our team has grasped the concept of creating moments and exploiting that. I think we've got a great system. But once again, we need that, them individual moments or we need a system or the manager needs to promote just things that, you know, you know, the things that we watch football for. Yes, we talk about tactics and things like that, but a player is going to dance past certain, you know, the whole team, a player that's going to hit it from 30 yards. You know, I don't think any of our players, like you think Kevin, I know City are out, but you think Kevin De Bruyne and all them Real Madrid players. I do think our players have resilience and have shown resilience. And there's times players have stood up to be counted, but we don't have a player who says, you know what? I'm soldiering this. I'm putting it on my shoulders and I'm turning things around. Whether we don't have that, whether the players don't have the ability, I don't know. That's neither here nor there. I think we've got a great system, but I do think Arteta needs to take a leaf out of Arsene Wenger's book and, you know, keep doing what he's doing. Because I do like how, maybe not so much the two games against Bayern or the last three games, but I do like our defensive performances. I do like the resilience. I do like a lot of things that have been put there in terms of the system. But I still think we need that healthy randomness that Arsene Wenger's team's had. That's what gets you through. We need to take the street smartness we've got and go and do that, really and truly. There are some positives, you know, I don't think we got embarrassed. I think we more than coped, you know, against their quality players. I think Sane was given a tough time by Tomi Asu. Likewise, he gave him a tough time. Kept Harry Kane quiet over the two legs. Yes, he scored a penalty. Musiala across 180 minutes, only turned up at home. You know, Kimmich, brilliant player, has had two great games. You know, I think I told people at the start of my watch along, the Guerrero thing is what scares me because he's a very good player. And I was really impressed, to be honest, how Bayern Munich transitioned from defence to attack very quickly. They were just sharper at that sort of stuff than us. We didn't know whether to stick or twist. Sometimes I think we slow things down a bit too much. On reflection, you know, three stupid goals to concede take nothing away from Bayern Munich. You play with fire, you get burnt. Three quality moments that they've exploited from us, but three terrible goals for all the quality they have. Sarne, Kimmich, Harry Kane, Ganabry, you know, Sarne, all of these, Gretzka, who hit the post, I got scared when he hit the post and then Guerrero, you know, for all their players, take nothing away from Bayern Munich. But it weren't a thing where, you know, we've equipped ourselves well. If these players go and do crazy things with their ability, you can just hold your hands up. We presented them a gift and that's what happens, people. You leave your front door open, someone's going to go and rob your house. That's basically what we did. You play with fire, you get burnt. That's what the great teams do. So, you know, congratulations to Bayern Munich in what's their last season for Thomas Tuchel. Maybe they want to achieve something special. I wonder what the final is going to be saying. You know, I wouldn't mind losing to the team that eventually went and won it, even though I would have liked Dayer and Kane to win such. But it is what it is in that regards, people. As I said, I think it's weird because I don't think we were scared, but I don't think we appeared totally convinced. I don't think we seized the moment and realized that we're going to be the champs next year, but we don't know if we're going to be in a situation like this again, where Bayern Munich looked the most beatable in comparison to us. And I think that's what will haunt them. As I said, three silly goals to concede. As you can say what you want about Bayern Munich, in my humble opinion, you know, not that we was terrible. They was amazing because we were kind of lacklustre, but it looked like a team that's been here before that's been in this realm versus new kids on the block, which is us, even our experienced players. And there's evident limitations. I think Jorginho was one of our better players, but he ain't got the legs. And again, when you're just trying to play through him, what's going on with the other 10 players? Saka and Martinelli are two fantastic young players, but they ain't got the pedigree to do this thing. You know, Kai Havertz dropping into midfield is a disaster. I would have started Kai and I think he deserves to start. And that was his first kind of terrible game in a while. But we know he's a limited player that doesn't really offer much and he didn't really do that yesterday either. So I think a lot of players have, you know, whether they're on the bench, whether they've started, I'm not sure. What I would say with Arteta, again, promote individuality, trust a lot more of your players. And I must admit, I wanted to see Thomas Partey, I get it, but at least with half an hour left, Partey could have come on. Again, I don't think we lacked commitment, but it did look a bit fearless at times, people. And again, I have to say, I was quite disappointed with the lack of penetrative play for essential reasons, man. We have a small, limited team and we need to do better. I think, you know, it's a lot more respectable. It's a lot more respectable than when we was last in it. We've given a semi-decent account of ourselves and there are things to build upon. That being said, again, it's cup competition. Everybody dreams about winning and playing in the Champions League. We failed to do such, but I hope these players have been bitten or burnt and next year they get better, really. And we showed our naiveties. I don't know how Odegaard didn't get a corner in the dire numbers of the game. Saka, that corner was terrible. Don't know why he took the quick free kick. And yeah, it was a quiet day from Bakayo. Still believe in the lad. It is what it is. So yeah, man, all of this is, in my opinion, why I think we ended up where we ended up. You know, it's easy to say for me, but you either be brave, fully brave in an attacking sense and you do what we've seen other teams that have more ability than us, or you have that Atletico Madrid siege mentality and they've gone out and I don't think we've got either. So we're in a bit of a unique space. I think, obviously, the players will learn from this experience and the manager as well. And to be fair with you, with Arteta, I still have question marks about you in the latter stages of Europe, but in comparison to the Europa League times, I'm a lot more happier with you. I think as much as I think this, you know, we've given a good account of ourselves to a certain degree. And I think the players will learn, the manager will learn, we'll find different tactics and psychologically this will help us and we'll know why you have to take advantage at fine moments. But to win the Champions League or to feel a lot more stronger in our aid to win a Prem, I think there's only so much. And again, you can't underestimate the training ground and improvements, but there's only so much we could do with this limit, the limitations in the squad. We need to act in the transfer market and it's April at the moment. So the transfer market thing is dead. And it's that April curse, that age old April curse that has, you know, come back to haunt us. But in life, you can either feel sorry for yourselves or you get back up, man. The only time you're truly defeated is when you sit on the floor and feel sorry for yourself. Get back up, get back in training and let's salvage what we can. Unfortunately, it's another trophyless season. We did win the English Super Cup. I hope we can win the Prem, but City have gone out of the Champions League. So that's going to add more fuel to their fire and they're in the driving seat. So we have to go again, essentially, people. That's all I can say in that regard. Smash the like button, comment. Let me know your thoughts on the game, on the individual performances, on Mikel Arteta, on not just obviously losing to Bayern Munich in Germany, but at the Emirates. And maybe there's something there psychologically as well with going over there. But yeah, on that note, that's all I've got to say, people. It's disappointing, but this is what football comes with. Peace.