Bayern Munich are not Burnley. Wilson Odobert, for all his twinkle-toed potential, is not Leroy Sane. And one of Arsenal’s starters in that 2-2 Champions League quarter-final draw with the German giants at the Emirates Stadium – at least according to Simon Jordan – might have just proven that occasions, and opposition, such as this may be a little beyond him.
Not for the first time during this Champions League campaign, Jakub Kiwior was given a bit of a runaround.
It was PSV Eindhoven’s Johan Bakayoko in the group-stages, and Sane in North London, the Poland international subbed off at half time for the second time in a matter of months.
And perhaps the most worrying aspect – from Kiwior’s perspective – is that Arsenal looked a lot more secure once he had exited via stage left. His replacement, Oleksandr Zinchenko, appeared far more comfortable up against the jet-heeled Sane, and must now have nailed down a spot in Mikel Arteta’s XI ahead of next week’s second leg.
Arsenal claim Bayern Munich draw in Champions League
“It’s one think playing Kiwior against Burnley,” Simon Jordan tells talkSPORT (10 April, 10am). “I think he was a bit exposed at times.”
The £20 million signing from Spezia was brought in to provide cover for Gabriel Magalhaes at centre-half. Kiwior has made many of his Arsenal appearances as a left-back instead, however. And while the 24-year-old has made some progress of late, this was a brutal reminder of the struggles he still tends to ensure up against skilful, unpredictable widemen.
“Leroy Sane down this side, he was too much for Kiwior,” former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher told CBS. “He had to go off at half-time. He was out of his depth in that first-half.”
Jordan, meanwhile, is still backing Arsenal to progress, even if The Gunners didn’t really step up to the occasion on a night in which even the usually-reliable figures of Declan Rice, William Saliba, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Magalhaes – who’s non-penalty had Thomas Tuchel fuming – fell short of their usually sky-high standards.
Poor nights for Jakub Kiwior and Gabriel Martinelli
“I still tip Arsenal,” Jordan adds, wondering if Gabriel Martinelli – like Kiwior – may have played his way out of Arteta’s XI. “I don’t think Munich are a great side. Harry Kane is a phenomenal player, he’s almost (Dennis) Bergkamp-esque now, and Sane was outstanding as well.
“But they are not 16 points behind (Bayer) Leverkusen for no reason. I think Arsenal will put in a more measured, controlled performance. Players like (Gabriel) Martinelli might not make the line-up next time around, (but) I think they will beat Munich.”
Martinelli struggled to get into the game. The man who replaced him just after the hour – Leandro Trossard – needed only ten minutes to cancel out Kane’s penalty.
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