Despite picking up a 2-0 win over the German outfit in the Allianz Arena on Wednesday, the Gunners were knocked out, with conceding three goals at home costing them dear
Laurent Koscielny has bemoaned Arsenal’s poor performance in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie against Bayern Munich, after the Gunners were eliminated on away goals on Wednesday.
The German side picked up a resounding 3-1 triumph at the Emirates Stadium, a result which had many people writing the Gunners off before the second leg had even started.
However, goals from Olivier Giroud and Koscielny gave Arsenal a 2-0 win at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night, although it was not enough to rescue the north London side’s chances of winning a trophy this season.
Speaking to BeInSport, Koscielny said: “I think its the first game that causes us prejudice, just like last year.
“Tonight, there is no place for regrets. We wanted to pressure them high and we were good.
“The second goal comes in late. It is as it is. We fought well, we tried to produce the play, but there was a big team in front of us.”
Giroud was equally disappointed, considering Arsene Wenger’s side came so close to taking an aggregate lead, but he is confident the fans will be proud of their efforts.
He added: “It was close. We are disappointed for the fans who were behind us. We almost did the perfect game.
“We scored near the beginning, and after that it was almost even but we managed to get the second. But then it was hard because the tank was empty.
“Bayern is a great team but we stood up against them. It’s a shame because there were other goal situations. But I think we made our fans proud.”
Speaking to Sky Sports, Mikel Arteta echoed Giroud’s thoughts that an earlier second goal would have been perfect.
“We gave absolutely everything we had in the game,” he said. “We knew we had conceded three goals at home and it was going to be difficult, but we kept going and we kept believing.
“It was mentally a very difficult game to manage tonight. When we scored the first one they didn’t look very convincing and we tried to take advantage of that.
“Coming here, not many teams win here. They have shown that they are a top side in Europe this season, so the lads deserve credit and the boss as well because he believed from the start that we could do it. We tried our best.”
Like his team-mates, Carl Jenkinson highlighted the importance of their early goal and, although they were ultimately knocked out of the competition, he is certain the Gunners can be proud of their efforts.
The 21-year-old stated: “We got that early goal that we needed. We knew that it was important that we kept it tight at the back and we did that. We got the second goal and we really thought we could do it, but I am proud of the boys and the effort everyone put in.
“We were so close to doing it when, to be honest, everyone had written us before the game. We have come here, we have won 2-0 and come so close to doing it. I am very proud of the boys.”