Mar 14, 2013 12:25 AM EDT
Bayern Munich vs Arsenal Analysis: Solid Defense and Pressure on the Ball Key to Victory Against German Giants

Hindsight is always a wonderful thing. However, one can't help but wonder what might have been had Arsenal showed the same guts and gumption in the first leg against Bayern Munich. For starters, they would still be in the Champions League - and probably readying themselves for that inevitable clash against Barcelona.

Bayern Munich were the mega team who were expected to steamroll the Gunners, missing a couple of their biggest players, much like they have done in the Bundesliga, and continue their romp towards another Champions League final.

How wrong everyone turned out to be.

This Arsenal side have it in them to be great is a phrase that Arsene Wenger always uses, while the rest of the people listening in shake their head in disbelief.

Fair enough for the majority, because nine time out of ten, Arsenal do not produce the goods when it matters most. That is one of the main reasons their trophy cabinet has remained bare since 2005.

However, like they showed against AC Milan last season, they are capable of a comeback, albeit a comebacks that falls short by the slightest of margins.

Against Bayern Wednesday, Arsenal went into the game finally looking like they had a proper game plan; not the go-out-and-express-yourself kind of style that Gooners have witnessed this season.

The plan was to stay solid in defense and not allow Bayern to concede. That worked well enough, with Bayern consigned to taking long-range efforts, while the biggest clear cut chance fell to Arjen Robben when he broke through and fired straight at Lukasz Fabianski, who it must be said had a really assured game.

The central defensive pair of Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker had a good game and were the first ones to get their foot or head on the ball from crosses; something that Arsenal don't do often enough.

Kieran Gibbs had a solid outing on his return from injury, while Carl Jenkinson gets better with every game he plays, although he can improve on his attacking play.

Arsenal were also asked to press high up the pitch, something they don't do often enough, and it seemed to make Bayern a little nervous on the ball. Arsenal were finally defending as a team, something that was in evidence in the early part of the season, but seemed to vanish soon after. 

That early goal from Olivier Giroud of course helped, as it gave the away side the belief that is so vital in a match of this magnitude.

However, the result in the second leg could have been different had Arsenal not been a little overanxious after going a goal up. Tomas Rosicky and Aaron Ramsey gave the ball away a little too often, while Theo Walcott just did not take advantage of the nervous Bayern defense enough.

If they had kept their composure a little more when in possession, Bayern were there to be taken. That comes with experience though, particularly one of winning consistently.

Consistency is something that Arsenal have forgotten about. They have not been able to put together a run of wins for so long now, which is why they find themselves staring up at Chelsea and Tottenham in the fight for Champions League qualification next season.

The game plan against Bayern Munich should be the blueprint that Arsenal should employ for the rest of the season. Remain solid in defense, keep those concentration levels up and pressure the ball high.

It's the all too familiar battle for Champions  League qualification now, starting with Swansea. The English Premier League game on Saturday will show if this Arsenal side are capable of putting a run together and force their way into the top four.

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