Arsenal test Bayern Munich and Harry Kane in ugly‑football litmus

It has been 144 days since Arsenal’s near‑miss in the Champions League Final in Budapest, and Manager Mikel Arteta still feels the sting, writes Ian Ladyman on 21 October. On Wednesday in Bavaria, the Gunners will meet Bayern Munich, with Harry Kane leading the attack, while goalkeeper David Raya confronts criticism of their style.

Arteta admitted he has not moved on, saying, ‘I have tried but when I see the ball and the music I realise how much I still want it so badly,’ when speaking last night. He recalled the early‑summer defeat to PSG as the biggest test before this Bayern meeting, and reiterated that the club must evolve after last season’s disappointment. He noted that, now in mid‑autumn, the same themes from the previous campaign still linger.

Bayern's home record

Bayern Munich have lost only once at home since last April, and they remain unbeaten away this season. Their resilience at the Allianz Arena in Munich makes the upcoming clash a true litmus test for Arsenal’s progress. The solitary home loss came earlier in the campaign, highlighting their consistency.

Arsenal's recent domestic display

Sunday’s Premier League victory over Nottingham Forest came from a single shot on target that deflected, a dreary and rather ugly way to win. The win added to a season in which Arsenal have lost one game in eleven. Despite being England’s champions, Arsenal often fail to display the expected style of play.

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Goalkeeper David Raya brushed off the criticism when asked if the dressing‑room was irritated. ‘No it doesn’t,’ he said, adding that ‘people have their own opinions… we enjoy playing football and we enjoy going out there every single day to win football matches.’ He noted the team’s record of one loss in eleven games and said the criticism does not affect the dressing‑room atmosphere.

European pedigree and style debate

That game in Budapest last May saw Arsenal hold just 25 per cent of the ball, a figure Raya compared with what he expects when Manchester City faces Burnley at home in Europe. He suggested such low possession would be unusual even against lower‑ranked sides.

Arteta reminded that Arsenal beat Bayern at home last season and had run over Real Madrid at the Emirates and in Spain the season before, showing they can compete across Europe. Those victories underline the side’s ability to perform on foreign soil.

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When pressed about the team’s style, Arteta replied with dry humour, ‘I heard our style was incredible because we scored so many goals, we have had more possession, more shots, different players participating, no goals from set‑pieces.’ He added that critics are a very small minority and that the squad has proven they can improve despite having won the amount of games they have. He concluded by thanking God that the team is not perfect and can still improve.