Arsenal and Bayern Munich’s pre-Champions League woes | OneFootball

Both Bayern Munich and Arsenal delivered lacklustre performances in their league fixtures over the weekend, raising questions ahead of their Champions League clash this Wednesday.

While Bayern managed a narrow 1-0 win against Cologne, it was far from convincing. Arsenal, meanwhile, struggled to a goalless draw against Everton, with head coach Jonas Eidevall’s decisions coming under scrutiny.

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 06: Caitlin Foord of Arsenal and Lucy Hope of Everton in action during the Barclays Women’s Super League match between Arsenal and Everton at Emirates Stadium on October 06, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Jaimi Joy/Getty Images)

Bayern Munich’s match against Cologne saw a frustrated coach, Alexander Straus, who became visibly upset on the sidelines. “No question,” Straus said after the game, “we didn’t show what we wanted today.” Despite dominating possession, Bayern lacked the creativity they’ve shown in recent weeks. They wanted to rest playmaker Klara Bühl to keep her fresh for the upcoming Arsenal match, but were forced to call on her from the bench.

Seven minutes after her introductions, a long-range strike from substitute Bühl in the 71st minute secured the win, but the performance left much to be desired. Bayern’s struggles in midfield and inability to create consistent chances allowed Cologne opportunities to break forward, exposing gaps in Bayern’s setup.

Straus emphasised the need for improvement before facing Arsenal: “We need a better performance on Wednesday.”

Meanwhile, Arsenal could not find a breakthrough in their 0-0 draw against Everton. Eidevall’s tactical decisions drew criticism, particularly his choice to make defensive-minded substitutions despite the need for a goal.

Starting with a line-up that included Daphne van Domselaar, Lotte Wubben-Moy, and Katie McCabe, the plan appeared to be designed to conserve energy for upcoming fixtures against Bayern and Chelsea.

In a perfect world, Arsenal might have taken an early lead, allowing them to manage player minutes ahead of a busy week. But a sluggish first half and only a slight improvement in the second saw the Gunners struggling to break down Everton’s well-organised defence.

Frida Maanum was the only attacking player who seemed to have any impact, but the team continued to struggle against a deep-lying defensive setup.

Despite the need for a breakthrough, Eidevall opted for a series of pre-planned substitutions that included bringing in Steph Catley for McCabe, a move that prioritised rest over immediate attacking impact.

The final substitution, swapping out Kyra Cooney-Cross for Lia Wälti, drew particular criticism. With Arsenal pushing for a win, many felt that introducing a more attack-minded player like Katherina Kühl would have been the better option.

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 06: Laia Codina of Arsenal waves to the Arsenal fans after the Barclays Women’s Super League match between Arsenal and Everton at Emirates Stadium on October 06, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Jaimi Joy/Getty Images)

The 0-0 draw means Arsenal have now dropped four points in their opening matches, following their previous draw against Manchester City. As a result, they sit in sixth place, two points behind City.

Chelsea have the opportunity to increase the gap to four points with their game in hand. With a crucial game against Chelsea this weekend, Arsenal face the risk of falling further behind in the title race if they fail to secure a win.

Next up, however, is a daunting trip to face Bayern Munich in their Champions League opener. The Gunners face a challenging schedule, with just a single training session to prepare for Bayern after a recovery day.

Following that, they will immediately turn their focus to Chelsea, with another quick turnaround between matches.

This week could be pivotal for Arsenal’s season, and Eidevall will need to strike the right balance between rotation and fielding his best XI.

While fans may criticise the coach’s decisions, it ultimately comes down to the players’ performance on the pitch.

With high stakes in both the Champions League and the WSL, the pressure is on for Arsenal to rise to the occasion and deliver the results they need.