Joshua Kimmich scored Bayern Munich’s second-half winner (Picture: Getty)
Arsenal’s Champions League campaign came to a crushing end as they were beaten 1-0 by Bayern Munich in a tight and tense quarter-final.
The tie was finely poised after a 2-2 draw in north London last week and little separated the sides in Bavaria until Joshua Kimmich’s 63rd-minute winner.
Arsenal had aspirations of winning the Champions League and Premier League this time last week but they are now out of Europe and two points behind title rivals Manchester City.
Bayern, meanwhile, can still salvage a largely disappointing season in which they failed to win the Bundesliga by becoming European champions.
Both teams sat second in their respective leagues ahead of this evening’s clash but, while Arsenal are still challenging for their first league title since 2004, Bayern’s era of dominance in the Bundesliga was officially ended last weekend as Bayer Leverkusen lifted their first league title.
Arsenal had more of the ball in the drawn first leg and that trend continued in Bavaria, though it was Harry Kane who had the first chance, the ex-Tottenham captain scuffing a volley wide.
Given what was on the line for both sides – a first semi-final since 2009 for Arsenal and the chance to salvage a miserable season for Bayern – the cagey start that played out was to be expected, though Gabriel Martinelli had the visitors’ first sight of goal with an effort that curled wide.
Arsenal suffered a quarter-final exit in the Champions League (Picture: Getty)
Martinelli was Arsenal’s biggest threat in the opening stages and almost slalomed his way through the Bayern defence before a last-ditch tackle halted his progress.
The hosts were dangerous on the break, though, and Noussair Mazraoui’s deflected cross almost crept into the corner before Jamal Musiala’s long-range effort forced a save from David Raya
It was Arsenal who looked more likely to break the deadlock going into the half-time interval – Martin Odegaard seeing a deflected shot saved by a scrambling Manuel Neuer and Martinelli shooting straight at the Bayern keeper from a great position.
Bayern made a strong start to the second half, hitting the post twice in the same attack, first through Leon Goretzka’s looping header and then from Raphael Guerrerio’s deflected shot.
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And the 2020 champions took the lead on 63 minutes – Kimmich meeting Guerrerio’s superb cross with a bullet header.
Bayern could have doubled their lead and left Arsenal with a monumental task just moments later but Leroy Sane spooned over after Mazraoui broke down the left and found the ex-Manchester City star at the back post.
Arsenal pushed for an equaliser without really troubling Bayern and huge cheers erupted around the Allianz Arena when the final whistle was blown.
Bayern had been knocked out at this stage of for three years in a row but showed their class and experience to eliminate Arsenal, who have now lost five of their six Champions League quarter-finals.
Having also lost at the weekend to Aston Villa, Arsenal’s impressive season is threatening to unravel and they will need to produce a result on Saturday when they visit Wolves.
When are the semi-finals?
Bayern Munich will face Man City or Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Champions League, with Paris Saint-Germain taking on Borussia Dortmund in the other tie.
The first legs will be held on April 30 and May 1, with the second legs a week later on May 7-8.
London’s Wembley Stadium hosts the 2024 Champions League final on Saturday, June 1.
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