Like many football fans I was surprised and impressed by Arsenal’s Champions League performance in Munich on Wednesday.
Given Bayern Munich’s excellent home record this season and the fact that Arsenal had to overturn a 3-1 first leg deficit they performed outstandingly and Arsene Wenger wiil have been buoyed by what he saw from his team.
It was a very big ask to score three goals at the Allianz Arena but they almost pulled it off but focus now returns to the Premier League for the Gunners and the task of qualifying for the Champions League next season by finishing in the top four.
Despite Bayern’s 21 shots on goal, Arsenal defended resolutely against the Germans and they must continue to do so in the Premier League if they are to finish in the Champions League places.
It is no secret that Arsene Wenger’s side have been poor defensively this season but their effort in Munich provides much hope and a template they can use for their remaining ten league games.
Wenger made a bold choice in dropping captain Thomas Vermaelen but it was the right one as the Belgian has been culpable for many of Arsenal’s defensive shortcomings. Following the clean sheet the manager must keep Laurent Koscielney alongside Per Mertesacker ahead of Saturday’s game against Swansea and if the results continue to improve then they must remain the first choice centre back pairing.
Arsenal have missed Kieran Gibbs, too, and he was brilliant in his return on Wednesday. Nacho Monreal has shown flashes of what he is capable of but he is still finding his feet with his new team and is also prone to costly errors (see Tottenham’s second goal in the north London derby).
Carl Jenkinson caught the eye and it is remarkable to think that only three seasons ago he was playing non league football.
If Wenger and his assistant Steve Bould are able to find the right formula that provides stability at the back then Arsenal will be apply pressure on Chelsea and Spurs who are ahead of them in the table.
They will need some results to go their way but the performance in Munich was promising and Wenger is a smart enough manager to know that it is something they can build on as they enter their Premier League season run in.