Joshua Kimmich dismissed suggestions that Arsenal have been Bayern Munich’s toughest opponent this season after their 3-1 defeat in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Mikel Arteta’s side made it five wins from five games in the Champions League with an impressive display against Bayern at the Emirates Stadium.
Jurrien Timber headed Arsenal in front from Bukayo Saka’s corner before Lennart Karl pulled Bayern level from close range in the 32nd minute. The Gunners stepped up a gear after the break and deservedly took the lead through substitute Noni Madueke before Gabriel Martinelli, who was also brought on in the second half, pounced on a mistake from Manuel Neuer to seal the victory.
The result is the first defeat of the season for Bayern, who had won all but one of their 18 games in all competitions before their trip to Arsenal.
Bayern’s impressive run of form included a 2-1 victory away to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League earlier this month, and Kimmich believes Luis Enrique’s side provided a more difficult test than Arsenal.
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Asked if Arsenal are the toughest opponents Bayern have faced this season, Kimmich told TNT Sports Brasil: ‘No, I don’t think so.
‘I think PSG were the toughest one, especially the way they play football.
‘Arsenal is completely different. They rely on set-pieces. They love to play the long balls, they love to fight for the second balls, it was a completely different game.
‘Against PSG, it’s more a football game. Today, it was not so much about football, it was about game management, it was more about the duels.
‘The win was well-deserved, but we have to learn from this game.’
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In a separate interview with German media, Kimmich claimed he was fully aware of the physical threat Arsenal posed in comparison to Chelsea, who Bayern beat 3-1 at the Allianz Arena in September.
‘It was definitely a deserved defeat. I thought we didn’t do well at all with the ball. We weren’t brave enough, we weren’t active enough, we didn’t give ourselves enough options,’ Kimmich said.
‘We weren’t physically up to par against the ball, although it was clear what kind of game it would be. It was clear that it wouldn’t be a game like the one against Chelsea, where it’s mostly about playing football, but we were aware that it would be much more about fighting for every ball, lots of long balls.
‘Arsenal then of course play every ball sharply, whether it’s a goal kick, a free-kick, a corner, they do it sharply, play everything into the box. They love their set-pieces and go all out for them, yes, we conceded too many set-pieces and then at some point it becomes difficult to defend them all.’
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