Arsenal legend Martin Keown has questioned the Gunners’ ability to deliver the goods on the big stage following defeat to Bayern Munich.
The Gunners lost 1-0 to the German giants in their Champions League quarter-final second leg, with boss Mikel Arteta ruining both goals they conceded in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium.
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Arsenal, who were in the last 16 of the competition for the first time since 2010, put up a good fight in the first half at the Allianz Arena.
But Joshua Kimmich’s header sealed their second defeat in four days after their 2-0 loss to Aston Villa dented their Premier League title hopes, with the pressure seemingly returning to them.
And it’s a concern Gunners ‘Invincible’ Keown has raised about the team as they reflect on another disappointing defeat.
When asked on TNT Sports how the players would feel, he replied: “Well, extremely disappointed. It comes down to fine margins, decision making on the pitch, just one goal between the two teams.
“But I just feel like Arsenal have never really given a proper account of themselves and it’s just when it matters most that we don’t seem to be able to deliver on our promises .
“So it’s one, you have to suck it up, all the players are suffering but you have to use it almost as oxygen for the rest of the season.
“We have to get up, it’s a huge disappointment for the fans, the supporters, you just want the players to play at their best, tonight it just didn’t happen for them.”
Arsenal led Bayern in the first leg, but after scoring two goals in the first half, they had to settle for a 2-2 at home.
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Even though their German opponents have struggled this season, a trip to the Allianz Arena was always going to be difficult, and it ended in a 3-2 aggregate defeat.
Speaking after the match, Arteta suggested that the goals they conceded in the first leg were key to their elimination, telling TNT Sports: “At the moment it’s a really empty dressing room, very disappointed I can’t find the right words to describe them, I would have liked to have.
“We have to go through this, we tried against a team that has a lot of experience. During the draw I think the margins were very small, there were times when we were better, we gave them given two goals, in a tie, that’s a big advantage to offer.
“Today we could see that there was a margin for error, zero. We made a mistake defending the area, a big mistake, and we conceded the goal. Then it was difficult, we have tried different ways but it is difficult.
“This is the time to stand by the players, to give them our support and to stand by them because they are the ones who have accompanied us on this journey.”
Premier League football is all that Arsenal have left to play for this season as they aim for a first league title in 20 years.
They sit second in the table behind reigning champions Manchester City, with an away trip to Wolves on Saturday a chance to respond to their latest disappointment.
