Champions League: Gallant Gunners leave Wenger proud despite exit

Arsenal bow out of league after missing crucial third goal against Bayern.

MUNICH: Arsene Wenger admitted his Arsenal team had made him proud even though they bowed out of the Champions League on away goals despite a dramatic 2-0 win at Bayern Munich in the last-16 second-leg.

Having lost the first leg 3-1 in north London three weeks ago, Wenger’s side left themselves with too much to do at Bayern’s Allianz Arena, but only the third elusive goal denied the Gunners a historic win.

“We went close, I am very proud of the performance of the team,” said Wenger. “I am disappointed for everyone who supports Arsenal that we couldn’t get that third goal.”

Wenger’s side became the last English club to exit the Champions League after it finished 3-3 on aggregate while Bayern sneak into Friday’s quarter-final draw.

Arsenal took the fight to their German hosts with striker Olivier Giroud giving the Gunners a third-minute lead before centre-back Laurent Koscielny netted with 86 minutes gone to set up a frantic finish.

“We can be proud of ourselves, we bow out with our heads high and we leave through the front door,” said goal-scorer Giroud.

Wenger admitted his team had left themselves with too much to do from the first-leg and said the third goal they conceded three weeks ago in London – by Bayern’s Mario Mandzukic – had made all the difference.

“We have shown we have the quality to be here, we left it too late for the third goal tonight, but we had our chances.

“The regret I have is that there is potential in the team, yet we are out of the competition.”

Meanwhile, Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes said his team had been “given a bit of a black eye” as they reached the last-eight by the narrowest of margins.

“We hadn’t reckoned on conceding an early goal and we allowed them to get into the game,” said Heynckes. “We didn’t control the game and weren’t calm. They gave us a bit of a black eye.

“We couldn’t find our game, we played a good opponent who pressed us well. Arsenal are a top team and at this stage there are no easy opponents.”

This is the third time in three seasons Arsenal have exited after the round of 16 in the Champions League, while Bayern join Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund in the last-eight.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2013.