Things could not have gone worse for Arsenal in the Champions League tonight. They were thrashed 5-1 by Bayern Munich, and Olympiacos beat Dinamo Zagreb to take qualification out of the Gunners’ hands.
The only slight consolation for the Premier League co-leaders was that Olivier Giroud continued his good recent form with this superb goal, which demonstrated great chest control and a skilful finish.
Watch more brilliant snippets like this with fanatix’s FREE sports video news app.
The France international striker now has five goals in his last six games – a strong turnaround in fortunes since his red card in September’s 2-1 loss to Zagreb started Arsenal’s European troubles.
Arsene Wenger’s side only have three points from their four Group F games and will be unable to progress to the knockout stages should Bayern and Olympiacos pick up just a single point more.
The Londoners gave themselves a chance of saving their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 win over Munich a fortnight ago, but the Germans seemed set on revenge from the first whistle this evening.
Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring on 10 minutes, capitalising on a failed offside trap to head home his 18th club goal of the season. Thomas Muller made it two before the half-hour mark.
SEE MORE: (Video) Soft Lewandowski goal shows Arsenal’s defence is vulnerable without Koscielny
Bayern were out of sight before the break as David Alaba’s 30-yard thunderbolt stunned Petr Cech, who was beaten again by a trademark Arjen Robben curler 38 seconds after his second-half introduction.
SEE MORE: (Video) Alaba screamer compounds Arsenal’s misery in Champions League horror show
Only when Pep Guardiola’s side had put their feet up did Giroud net a reply for Arsenal, but Muller had the last word for Munich on a damaging night for the Gunners ahead of Sunday’s North London derby.
SEE ALSO:
(Video) Willian’s majestic free-kick spares Chelsea’s blushes & football world more Mourinho moaning
(Video) Chris Coleman brilliantly puts Arsene Wenger in his place in Aaron Ramsey injury row
(Video) Ashley Young guilty of yet another horrendous dive in Manchester United win
COMMENTS