Arteta Urges Arsenal To Learn From Draw Against Bayern Munich

Following Tuesday’s intense 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich, Mikel Arteta has issued a caution to Arsenal, emphasizing the importance of learning from their errors if they aspire to progress to the Champions League semi-finals. Despite the challenging encounter, Leandro Trossard’s late equalizer in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium kept the quarter-final tie finely poised.

Harry Kane, a familiar nemesis, coolly converted a penalty to give Bayern a 2-1 lead, responding to Serge Gnabry’s equalizer after Bukayo Saka’s early goal for Arsenal. The Gunners, appearing in their first Champions League quarter-final since 2010, displayed moments of hesitation in what proved to be a frustrating evening.

While Arsenal have been in exceptional form in 2024, Bayern have encountered difficulties throughout the season. Nevertheless, Arsenal’s favored status for progressing to the last four was jeopardized by’ lapses in defense. Arteta has urged his team to view this experience as a valuable lesson and an opportunity to rectify their mistakes in the upcoming second leg in Munich on April 17th. He expressed confidence in the team’s ability to rise to the occasion and make improvements moving forward.

“We will go again in Munich. We are alive. The game became difficult and they understand they have to step up the level,” he said. “We have made some mistakes today. Let’s learn from it. These players have been unbelievable. It’s part of football. Let’s support them”.

“I sense the belief there. We are going to go to Munich and have a chance to win it. We’re going to be better in certain areas and that’s how we are going to prepare it.” He said.

Arteta acknowledged that Bayern’s strong performance in the first half had unsettled his team, but he commended their ability to regroup and regain composure in the second half.

“The second goal created some insecurity in the team but after we reacted well. It’s easy to throw your toys away when things don’t go right,” he said.

“The subs, especially Leandro and Gabriel (Jesus), made a huge impact with their body language and the initiative they took to make things happen.”

Saka believed he should have been given a penalty in the closing moments when Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer seemed to have made contact with the Arsenal winger. But replays suggested Saka had initiated the contact and Arteta refused to be drawn on the controversy, saying only that he “hadn’t seen the image again” and “can’t change” the decision.

Arteta stated, “There are no away goals anymore. We are happy with what we showed and we start from 0-0 next week”. “Next week we will have the decision. It is only half-time.”