Arsenal dumped out of Champions League by Bayern Munich

’s Champions League campaign came to a crushing end as they were beaten 1-0 by in a tight and tense quarter-final.

The tie was finely poised after a 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 .

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 Germany was .

Arsenal had more of the ball in the drawn first leg and that trend continued in Munich, 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 rescue 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. 

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. 

But 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. 

And the 2020 champions took the lead on 63 minutes – Kimmich meeting Guerrerio’s superb cross with a bullet header past the helpless Raya. 

Bayern could have doubled their lead 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 truly troubling Bayern and huge cheers erupted around the Allianz when the final whistle was blown.

Bayern had been knocked out at this stage 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 , Arsenal’s impressive season is threatening to unravel and they will need to produce a result on Saturday when they return to domestic action against Wolves.

When are the semi-finals and final?

Bayern Munich will face Real Madrid for a place in the Champions League final after the . Paris Saint-Germain take on Borussia Dortmund in the other semi-final 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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