Arsenal's steady, stoic showing proves they have another hill to climb

Do Arsenal have the squad required to win the big trophies? Do they need a striker in the transfer market this summer? Will this painful set-back impact their performances in the remainder of the Premier League season?

Even so, this was not a night that deserves chastisement, just one in which they didn't grab the bull by the horns - which will feel like a disappointment.

On reflection, Arsenal may well feel they could have taken the game to Bayern rather than sitting back in their first quarter-final in 14 years. But it was always going to be a big ask for a young side that is still cementing its place at the top of the game.

Remember, even Arsene Wenger didn’t manage to win the big-eared trophy for the Gunners during his time in north London, although his side reached the final in 2006 before losing controversially in the Stade de France in a match that saw goalkeeper Jens Lehmann sent off in a narrow 2-1 defeat.

Now this young side wants to burn their own history onto Arsenal’s honours board, and taking the first step isn’t easy. As was ultimately highlighted here as they petered away in the second half just when they needed to step it up.

“Most of our players haven't experienced a night like this and it is going to be the first one,” admitted Arteta before the game – and that inexperience, a boisterous crowd and an experienced home team, was the difference in the end.

This was the kind of steady, stoic performance we saw when Arsenal drew 0-0 at the Etihad recently, proving they have the ability to play more than one style of football against dynamic opponents.

For long periods they looked relaxed and comfortable in possession, just waiting for the right moment to pounce. But once Bayern took the lead, through a Joshua Kimmich header after 64 minutes, it felt like their fate was sealed and 1-0 was a comfortable result for the home side.

Now comes the ‘what next’ question.

This tie in Munich cannot be looked at entirely in the context of a rare opportunity to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League; it needs to be juxtaposed with Sunday’s nervy performance at the Emirates in a 2-0 defeat against Aston Villa and by Manchester City’s intense pressure on Arteta’s men back home.

There is also a chaotic night in the first leg against Bayern, which saw Leandro Trossard rescue a late 2-2 draw, to consider, and a far-from-convincing 2-0 victory over Luton when everyone was expecting a cricket score.

Plus, of course, that goalless draw at the Etihad against their title rivals, which a was either pragmatic triumph or a missed opportunity, depending on which way you look at it.

Either way, Arsenal knew the reports on this one would be polemic again, depending on the result. 

Either it would be an outstanding response under pressure that also underlined their title credentials – or a familiar flop in a season that promised much but which is ending in frustration yet again.

We should avoid the temptation to go overboard. This Arsenal side has grown steadily across the season and they don’t feel far away – a top-quality striker, some squad strengthening at full-back, back-up for Odegaard and Saka, who both played here despite clearly carrying injuries, may well be enough.

There have been signs of improvement, even recently. An outstanding 3-0 victory at Brighton was a classy statement, and the 3-1 home win over Liverpool in February even more special.

But when it came to it, experience counted for Bayern Munch who have been here and done it all before, and although Arteta claimed he wanted his side to ‘look like themselves’ in Munich, ultimately they couldn’t achieve that goal in the second half.

Arsenal must have looked on jealously at the performance of Harry Kane, who may not have scored but dropped back to win possession so many times and always looked to make the play. 

Here is an outstanding all-round centre-forward – a step ahead of Gabriel Jesus and Co. 

That’s the standard that Arsenal now need to aspire to if they want to win the big trophies again – and maybe they need to be more positive, too, to win the very biggest games and catch Manchester City in the Premier League.

The season is not over yet, but it feels perilously close.