Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich

0-2, Champions League, Emirates Stadium, 19 February 2014

What started out as a promising and lively game from both sides, a truly wonderful game from a neutral point of view, was spoiled before the end of the first half by a rash decision from the referee. Immensely disappointing.

The start of the first half was brilliant, from both sides. Szczesny had to make a great save in the initial minutes as Kroos fired towards the top corner. On the other end Sanogo, who got to start this game, created a few great chances himself. The most remarkable of which was a sizzling shot that forced a great save out of Neuer.
   Cazorla had a decent chance as well not long after, but his shot went straight at the 'keeper. Then the moment came where we could have turned the game in our favour, Özil was brought down in the box and we were awarded with a penalty. He took it himself, but to our despair it was saved by Neuer, Özil attempted to wait the 'keeper out, but it did not work out that way and we squandered the one chance we could not afford to squander.
   After that Bayern Munich got back in it, and Flamini had to make a block as Alaba had a shot following a corner. Throughout the game the Frenchman was brilliant, not only as a defensive midfielder but also as the one player urging the team on when things got tougher. As a result of some decent play around the box twenty minutes into the half Flamini also had a shot, unfortunately it went over the bar.
   Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is in brilliant form at the moment, came inches from reaching the ball in a race with the 'keeper as Sanogo won the ball in the middle, but Neuer got to it first, by no large marginal, and swooped it clear. Ten minutes later Gibbs picked up an injury and had to be replaced by Monreal, the first in a series of poor things that were to shape the game for us.
   As the half was approaching its end our defence kept up the hard work and Mertesacker made a vital block as Robben fired a shot away from inside the box. Then the true disaster of the game struck as Szczesny accidentally brought Robben down in an attempt to get the ball, and was quite unbelievably shown a red card for it. In that moment, the ref single-handedly killed the game. Cazorla had to go off and Fabianski was brought on to face the penalty. Even though Alaba hit the post and there was some momentary joy amidst the despair, the game was settled the moment we knew that we would be down to ten men for the rest of the game, and it was the home game as well.

The second half turned out as expected, Bayern Munich dominated possession while our team had to defend valiantly, which they did. Sadly it was not enough, and for all the saves that Fabianski produced and all the blocks and dedicated defending of the team two goals slipped in, an unstoppable shot from Kroos and a header from Müller. This gives us a pretty bleak chance of qualifying, yet anything can happen. It's a real shame, though, as it felt as though we were definitely up for the task when it was 11 against 11...