„Clearly inferior“: Bayern experience reality check against Arsenal | OneFootball

FC Bayern’s 3-1 defeat at FC Arsenal was more than just a simple loss – it was an evening that ruthlessly exposed where the record champions are currently lagging behind top international teams. TV pundit Marcel Reif found clear words and dissected Munich’s performance.

According to Reif, Bayern realized against Arsenal „that there are teams that are even better in terms of quality“. London showed exactly that – both individually and collectively. Munich were unable to keep up with Arsenal’s intensity, enthusiasm and precision in any phase of the second half. „Yesterday it was like that, individually and as a team,“ said Reif.

Individual lapses and hardly any players in top form

The 74-year-old then dissected almost every part of the team. „Hardly anyone was at their best,“ was his verdict – and the expert was adamant in his assessment. The focus was particularly on the defence.

For him, Josip Stanisic was „good, nothing more“, a phrase that clearly describes the problem: solid, but not enough in such a top match. He was even harsher on Dayot Upamecano, saying that the Frenchman did „hair-raising things“, especially in the opening. It was the opening that repeatedly put Arsenal in transitional situations. Particularly bitter: a mistake by the Frenchman led directly to 1:2.

photo: IMAGO

Reif also saw clear deficits in the center. Joshua Kimmich played „okay“, but made mistakes – mistakes that a team like Arsenal punishes immediately. Aleksandar Pavlovic had an extremely difficult evening. „He certainly didn’t have the game under control,“ said Reif, referring to the Londoners‘ preponderance in the center, which was overwhelming over 90 minutes.

The attack did not escape unscathed either. Michael Olise, actually predestined for such evenings with an open stage, completely disappeared from Reif’s point of view. „Completely fizzled out,“ said the expert – a harsh judgment, but one that describes the ineffectiveness of the French international on this evening.

Bayern’s evening in London – a bitterly needed lesson

FCB barely managed to get their creative players into positions where they could develop their strengths. Arsenal defended tightly, aggressively and consistently – and Bayern reacted more than they acted.

Reif was sparing with his praise, but he did highlight one Bayern player: Serge Gnabry. The winger’s 1:1 was a moment of pure world class. „An A with an asterisk,“ enthused the pundit. But here, too, came the caveat: „After that – what else?“ This is exactly what describes Munich’s attacking performance. A brief moment of brilliance, but no viable concept to break Arsenal down in the long term.

In the end, Reif’s analysis was like an unsparing mirror. Munich were not only beaten, they were outclassed in crucial areas – in intensity, dynamism, decision-making and individual class. For Bayern, the evening was a „necessary reality check“ that showed how big the gap to the absolute European elite really is at the moment.