Arsenal 'outclassed, spineless and embarrassing' - the fall-out from Bayern loss
"Outclassed and outplayed", "spineless", "no fight, no aggression".
Arsenal are on the verge of exiting the Champions League at the last-16 stage for the seventh successive season following Wednesday's 5-1 first-leg defeat at Bayern Munich, and the reaction has been pretty damning.
It has been described as Arsene Wenger's lowest point as Arsenal boss by one Gunners legend and increases the pressure on the Frenchman, with his side's Premier League title challenge having faltered.
Wenger's Emirates future is uncertain with his contract up at the end of the season. Can he overcome this latest setback?
- Bayern Munich 5-1 Arsenal - report
- Arsenal 'mentally collapsed' - Wenger
- 'Arsenal are a laughing stock' - Henry Winter
'Wenger must consider his future'
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown - captain of the club under Wenger - said recently he expected his former manager to get one more season.
However, after watching the Bayern defeat as a pundit for BT Sport, Keown questioned whether he should stay.
"It's almost embarrassing. Outclassed, outplayed," he said.
"Wenger has to be seriously considering his future now because it's embarrassing. I can't ever say I'd like to see him go (but) this is his lowest point ever as Arsenal manager."
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand said Arsenal showed no fight or aggression.
"They looked spineless," he said on BT Sport. "You want to see fire in their belly and that's the most disheartening thing for me."
Has Wenger lost his touch?
| Arsenal's last-16 hoodoo | ||
|---|---|---|
| Season | Opponent | Aggregate score |
| 2010-11 | Barcelona | 3-4 |
| 2011-12 | Milan | 3-4 |
| 2012-13 | Bayern Munich | 3-3 (Bayern win on away goals) |
| 2013-14 | Bayern Munich | 1-3 |
| 2014-15 | Monaco | 3-3 (Monaco win on away goals) |
| 2015-16 | Barcelona | 1-5 |
Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin was at the Allianz Arena for BBC Radio 5 live and he described Arsenal as "shambolic".
"The negativity before the game feels more like a realism," he said. "Arsenal were totally outplayed by a team who are good but weren't utterly brilliant."
The Times' chief football writer Henry Winter described the Gunners as a "laughing stock", adding that he felt Wenger's best days are behind him.
"He has lost his leadership skills, there's no invincible streak in him anymore," he said.
"From top to bottom there's no leadership. They have a silent owner who is sleepwalking towards the abyss. Wenger has been overtaken by Conte, Klopp and other managers."
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