„Deserved defeat“: Kimmich’s tough analysis after Bayern’s defeat | OneFootball

After FC Bayern’s 3-1 defeat at Arsenal, Joshua Kimmich delivered an analysis that was as clear as it was reflective. The midfielder was not sparing with his criticism, pinpointing his team’s weaknesses – and at the same time making it clear why the evening in London was an important touchstone for the German record champions.

Kimmich went straight into his assessment: „It was definitely a deserved defeat. I thought we didn’t do well with the ball at all. We weren’t brave enough, we weren’t active enough.“ The 30-year-old criticised both the possession game and Bayern’s behaviour against the ball. Bayern failed to free themselves from pressure situations or generate controlled pressure themselves.

Particularly noticeable: FCB found hardly any solutions against Arsenal’s physical style of play. And that was exactly what they had prepared for. While opponents such as PSG or Chelsea rely more on possession, Arsenal thrive on intensity, long balls, second balls and merciless pressing. Kimmich: „It was clear that it was a lot about the fight, lots of long balls. Arsenal then naturally make every ball sharp.“

Bayern’s standard problem and Arsenal’s special discipline



One focus of his analysis was the numerous opposition set-pieces. Arsenal have had outstanding precision at corners, free-kicks and throw-ins for years – and Bayern gave them far too many opportunities to do so.

„I think the main problem today was the number of corners we conceded,“ explained Kimmich. Every mistake led to a new set-piece situation, every throw-in became dangerous, every ball into the box a potential risk. „At some point it just becomes difficult to keep defending that away,“ he added.

The match clearly showed what Bayern need in such top games: courageous ball circulation, better connections in midfield, more intensive tackling and more consistency in pressing. Instead, FCB lost too many second balls, played too many imprecise passes and generated too little stability.

Kimmich analyzed this without sparing: „We weren’t active enough.“ It was precisely this lack of activity that Arsenal punished mercilessly.

Learning instead of lamenting: Kimmich admonishes, but reassures

Despite the clear words, Kimmich did not fall into alarmism. On the contrary: he classified the defeat as a learning moment. „I am convinced that we will take a lot with us, that we will learn a lot from it.“ The encounter reminded him of the match in Barcelona in the previous season, after which Bayern set an important course and became more stable again.

Kimmich is also relaxed about the situation in the table: „Not much has happened in the table now. If we do our homework now, then we’ll go through with confidence.“