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RATINGS: Arsenal 0-2 Bayern: Same Old Story As Ozil Struggles Again

By on February 19, 2014

It was another one of those frustrating European nights where everything that could go wrong, did.

We made a blistering start and were given the perfect chance to take a deserved lead but Mesut Ozil’s woeful penalty miss in the 10th minute halted our momentum and you just knew at that point that this wasn’t going to be our night.

You simply can’t afford to miss those sorts of opportunities against a team like Bayern and now we’re left wondering ‘what if’. Szczesny’s sending off may have been a little harsh but we simply couldn’t live with them in the second half with just 10-men. (You can see Szczesny giving the ref the ‘wanker sign’ before he heads down the tunnel here)

The second goal by Muller was cruel as the boys deserved better after fighting to bravely for much of the game. Here are my player ratings:

Szczesny – 6/10 – Great early save to deny Kroos but his sending off changed the game.

Sagna – 7/10 – Did well down his flank to contain Gotze and Alaba.

Mertesacker – 8/10 – Another captains performance from the big German and he didn’t deserve to be on the losing side.

Koscielny – 8/10 – Performed heroics at times but was caught up field from our own free-kick for the second goal.

Gibbs – 7/10 – Was playing superbly well before being forced off with a hamstring injury. I said to my friend straight away that Gibbsy would be a huge miss and I was proved correct as Monreal struggled in his place.

Flamini – 7.5/10 – Put a real shift in to protect the defence but one mistake at the end cost us a goal, as he failed to keep hold of Muller who headed home the second.

Wilshere – 8/10 – Was running the game until Szczesny’s sending off. Played some beautiful passes in the first half and worked hard after the break to try and keep them at bay.

Cazorla – 7/10 – Was buzzing about everywhere in the opening exchanges and looked really up for it before sadly being taken off following the sending off.

Oxlade-Chamberlain – 7.5/10 – Excellent in the opening 30 minutes and his pace and running in behind was giving the visitors problems. Was surprisingly taken off in the second half when it really should have been Ozil.

Ozil – 5/10 – Horrendous penalty miss which turned the game. I’m not a fan of the short, staggered run-ups and this is why. He was actually playing pretty well until this point and won the spot kick with some nice skill, but his confidence drained out of him after his miss. Was barrated by Flamini and Jack in the second half for his lack of work helping out the defence.

Sanogo – 6.5/10 – Made a really positive start and was looking confident. He sprayed a wonderful through-ball to release The Ox which almost led to a goal but understandable his influence faded when we went down to 10. I’m not even sure he touched the ball in the second half.

Subs:

Monreal – 5/10 – On for Gibbs and struggled to cope with Robben.

Fabianski – 7/10 – Made a few decent saves but couldn’t keep the two goals out, neither of which were his fault.

Rosicky – 6/10 – Gave us some more energy in midfield.

So we’re now likely to head out of the Champions League at the last 16 stage again, barring a miracle in Germany. It was a cruel game for us to take as it promised so much more after an excellent start.

I just hope the players aren’t too down after the game. I have no doubt the game would have gone a whole lot different had Ozil tucked away his penalty and Szczesny stayed on the field, but these are the fine margins of top level football. Unfortunately these things seem to go against us when it really matters.

Still, we’ve got the league and FA Cup still to fight for and who knows, an early goal at the Allianz Arena and we could pull of a shock in the second leg….

Agree with my ratings? What did you make of the game?

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