Numbers don't lie: Stats support Bayern brilliance, awful Arsenal
It’s becoming all too predictable for Arsenal.
Mired in an erratic league campaign that has seen yet another title chase shift from a realistic goal to a pipe dream, the Gunners and embattled manager Arsene Wenger headed to Bavaria and got their asses kicked.
The eye test says Arsenal is a side lacking a spine and the courage to see out a result, while the numbers support just how one-sided Bayern Munich’s 5-1 bludgeoning of Wenger’s docile bunch was.
Here’s a look at a collection of statistics that describe how brilliant Bayern was, and how insipid Arsenal was as it heads back to north London embarrassed and with more questions than answers:
6: For the sixth consecutive season, Arsenal has lost the first leg of a Champions League last-16 tilt.
Arsenal have lost the first leg in the Champions League last-16 for the sixth consecutive season. pic.twitter.com/nleeHkhmhw
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 15, 2017
16: Bayern Munich becomes the first club in Champions League history to win 16 consecutive home matches.
200: Arsenal is the first English side to concede 200 Champions League goals. Congrats.
9: Nine of Bayern’s 11 players were involved in Robben’s opener.
(Courtesy: @OptaJoe)
3+: Arsenal has conceded three or more goals in four of its last six first-leg matches in the Champions League last-16.
21.2 percent: Arsenal’s possession in the opening half.
18-4: The Bundesliga behemoth created 18 chances to Arsenal’s four.
0: In 77 minutes played, Francis Coquelin failed to win a single tackle.
1: The number of Arsenal players (Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain) to applaud the away fans for making the trip to Germany.
Oxlade-Chamberlain the only #afc player to go and acknowledge the away fans. Just given his shirt to someone in the crowd too. pic.twitter.com/clE9mqTsUQ
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) February 15, 2017
12: The number of passes completed by Alex Iwobi to go with zero shots on target, zero chances created, zero crosses, zero take-ons, zero tackles, and zero aerial duels.
24: Bayern took 24 shots, eight of which landed on target.
5-1: Bayern’s last two home fixtures against Arsenal ended in 5-1 victories for the Bavarians.
10: Minutes it took to send Arsenal packing from the group stage for a seventh season on the bounce after a Thiago Alcantara brace and Robert Lewandowski’s header made a mockery of Wenger’s side.
