Arteta issues rallying call after Arsenal ‘punished’ by Bayern Munich

Mikel Arteta says he has “a lot of belief” Arsenal can go and get the job done in the second leg after drawing with Bayern Munich at home in the Champions League quarter-finals. 

Bukayo Saka opened the scoring early on, but Serge Gnabry capitalised on poor play from the Gunners in their own half to level matters.

Leroy Sane was felled in the box on the half hour mark by William Saliba, allowing former Tottenham striker Harry Kane to put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot.



 

Leandro Trossard was sprung from the bench in the second half to score the equaliser, but Arteta was left to rue a missed chance from Ben White that could have doubled Arsenal‘s lead in the first half.

“The game had different moments,” the Spaniard told TNT Sports. “We started really well, we were dominant, didn’t concede anything. We scored a really good goal and after that is the moment of the game when Ben is in front of [Manuel] Neuer and if it was 2-0 it would have been a very different game.

“They scored and it created some uncertainty, the second goal was unusual for us to concede but it is the Champions League, you make a mistake and get punished.



“We allowed them the spaces to run and they were very dangerous but even at 2-1 we tried to make a rhythm, we were composed and didn’t try to rush things and the changes had an impact on the game.

“In the Champions League you give something they will take it. You get punished. That is part of football as well.

“The things we can control is do the simple things better.”



Arsenal had a very late penalty shout after Saka went down in the box, but referee Glenn Nyberg chose not to point to the spot after the winger stuck out his leg to initiate contact with Manuel Neuer.

“They said they checked it and decided it was not a penalty,” Arteta said on the incident.

The north London outfit will travel to Munich for the second leg on 17 April with all to play for. “I have a lot of belief we can go there and beat them. We have to prepare really well.”

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