BUKAYO SAKA has been slammed by Martin Keown for his mistake late on that “summed up” Arsenal’s performance against Bayern Munich.
Arsenal crashed out of the Champions League quarter-final after falling to a 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
The 3-2 aggregate defeat shows how tight the tie was and former Gunners star Keown bemoaned Arsenal’s lack of urgency.
He also highlighted a lack of know-how and pointed to Saka’s decision to take a quick free-kick in the dying seconds when Arsenal had an opportunity to take a shot at goal.
Keown said on BT Sport: “It was very disappointing, kind of summed up at the end there when Saka for some reason taking a free-kick [short] when there was the opportunity to really test the goalkeeper.
“You just saw that little bit of lack of experience. There needs to be more urgency in the closing exchanges. Saka made that decision in the moment.
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“I admire that as well. But I think he might have been better taking that delivery from the free kick and it might have been a wonder goal.
“You wanted to see the ball going in the box. That urgency wasn’t there and I think that’s a lack of experience, of being in those major games, and knowing what to do in those critical moments.”
Arsenal mustered just eight shots against Bayern and only three on target, with Martin Odegaard’s long-range strike that was tipped onto the post the closest they came to scoring.
Keown felt they did not do enough to win the match and the tie, suggesting Bayern were much more direct with their play.
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He added: “No real urgency in those closing stages. Hugely disappointing. Just feel as though we didn’t really lay a glove on them in this second tie.
“It was there if we wanted it, as Owen [Hargreaves] said, and Bayern came out with the resolve, direct, and posed much more of a threat than Arsenal did. Look at that, sums it up doesn’t it, the last action of the game.
“It was just such a flat performance, even at the end there, the ball, get it in the box, get it in there, try and affect, and they didn’t seem prepared to do that. You don’t deserve to go through if you play a performance like that tonight.”
Thomas Tuchel’s genius tactical tweak against Arsenal
FANS hailed Thomas Tuchel’s tactical tweak that “took Bukayo Saka out of the game” in their Champions League victory against Arsenal.
With regular full-back Alphonso Davies suspended, Tuchel deployed TWO full backs in his place in the shape of Noussair Mazraoui and Raphael Guerreiro.
The duo doubled up on Saka, with Mazraoui at left-back and Guerreiro playing higher up, offering him protection from midfield.
And the plan could not have worked out any better with Saka almost totally nullified.
One fan noted: “Thomas Tuchel with a tactical masterclass today starting two full-backs on the left wing to keep Bukayo Saka locked down.
“Through 75 minutes, Saka has 0 shots and 0 chances created. Just 19 accurate passes & 32 total touches…”
Tuchel himself explained: “You have to defend a lot on that side. Arsenal’s right side is where most attacks usually start. That’s their danger side. That’s why we chose Rafa (Guerreiro).”
Read more on Tuchel’s genius here.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
