UEFA Champions League: Tactical Analysis - Arsenal 0-2 Bayern Munich
Arsenal and Bayern Munich faced off once again in the Champions League and it was a familiar tale in terms of the final outcome. The match progressed a whole lot differently to last season but Toni Kroos and Thomas Muller were once again on the scoresheet and a two goal advantage was maintained, going into the second leg.
This was the starting line up and how they initially set up. Note that Gibbs and Cazorla were quickly substituted in the first half, while Rafinha came on at half-time
Starting Line Ups:
Arsenal: Szczesny (sent off 37?), Mertsesacker, Koscielny, Sagna, Gibbs (Monreal 31?), Flamini, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Rosicky 74?), Cazorla (Fabianski 38?), Ozil, Sanogo
Bayern Munich: Neuer, Lahm, Alaba, Boateng (Rafinha 45?), Dante, Martinez, Kroos, Thiago (Pizaro 79?), Robben, Gotze, Mandzukic (Muller 64?)
Bayern exploit the right flank and create space centrally, as Ozil/Cazorla struggle
Although Arsenal made a fairly decent case for themselves, Bayern weren’t the inferior of the two sides. They had some guile in attack themselves, especially down the right-hand side. Captain Philipp Lahm had a crucial part to play combining with Mario Gotze.
The ex-Dortmund man moved to a more narrow role as the attack advanced further forward and towards the Bayern box; Lahm would join up and provide width, effectively taking up the position of a winger. Gotze would then naturally move more narrow, allowing Lahm to run down the flanks. Gotze exploited the wide areas of the box, constantly making runs into that channel looking for a through ball.
This was a regular feature in the first half, something that Cazorla struggled to deal with. With two men constantly exploiting the right flank, Santi Cazorla was required to provide assistance to Kieran Gibbs while also adequately participating in attack. This universality of roles is something the Spaniard couldn’t deal with.
Gibbs injury proved costly as well, his replacement Monreal did a decent job but had issues maintaining his line and tracking players. Cazorla was taken off when Sczcesny received his red, and Ozil was pushed to the left side but he too struggled to deal with the right flank. A huge 41% of Bayern’s attack was conjured up from the right side.
Guardiola saw the opportunity that the right flank was providing and decided to further exploit the area. Jerome Boateng who had already been booked when he conceded the penalty, and made a rash challenge moments later on Wilshere prompting the referee to give him a final warning, was taken off and replaced by Rafinha.
Another master stroke by Bayern’s Spanish manager, retaining just one natural centre-back for the second half, who was flanked by two full-backs on either side, while Lahm shifted between an advanced wide and central role.
This was how the game wore on in the second half
Guardiola identified the need to stretch play and widen Bayern’s attack, given that Arsenal were down to 10 men, and thus used Arsenal’s defensive frailty on the right to full advantage. Rafinha naturally slotted into the right flank and as Arsenal sat back, inviting Bayern forward, Rafinha duly obliged occupying a wide right midfield position.
Lahm was pushed further ahead of him and the two took turns to run down the flank. Lahm eventually started playing a more narrow game, replicating what Gotze did, but not necessarily running into the box enough. Robben was shifted from the left to the right and he further stretched play. The Dutchman was not restricted to the right but was given a level of creative freedom.
The men who looked to benefit most were Toni Kroos and Mario Gotze. 21-yr-old Gotze was now deployed in his more favourable central role. With Bayern stretching play, Arsenal had to constantly shift to the wide areas to prevent them from having time and space on the ball in this dangerous area.
It consequently opened up time and space in the central area which Gotze looked to exploit, but Kroos eventually benefited from. Arsenal struggled to cover the wide areas and replicate that in central areas as quickly as Bayern’s attack.
Having said that, Bayern didn’t do enough to exploit this central position as they could have. For large parts they seemed lost for ideas and a one dimensional attacking approach. Both the goals though, eventually, came in that form with Kroos free in the central area for the first goal and space opening up for Muller to put Bayern two goals to the good (there was more to the second goal though, explained later).