Arsenal were robbed of the chance to play on a level playing field against Bayern Munich as the referee sent off Laurent Koscielny while handing the visitors a penalty.
The team news before the game was as good as you could expect. Many wanted Lucas instead of Theo Walcott or Kieran Gibbs instead of Nacho Monreal, but for the most part fans were happy.
Of course, that didn’t last. Danny Welbeck was ill in the warm up and Arsenal have to replace him. Wenger turned to Olivier Giroud and Arsenal started the game with just six subs, a game plan dented and an attacking option shorn from the bench. You would never have known it.
- LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 07: Arsenal fans march in protest outside the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg match between Arsenal FC and FC Bayern Muenchen at Emirates Stadium on March 7, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 07: Arsenal fans march in protest outside the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg match between Arsenal FC and FC Bayern Muenchen at Emirates Stadium on March 7, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
- during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg match between Arsenal FC and FC Bayern Muenchen at Emirates Stadium on March 7, 2017 in London, United Kingdom.
- LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 07: Arsenal fans march in protest outside the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg match between Arsenal FC and FC Bayern Muenchen at Emirates Stadium on March 7, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 07: Arsenal fans march in protest outside the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg match between Arsenal FC and FC Bayern Muenchen at Emirates Stadium on March 7, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 07: Arsenal fans march in protest outside the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg match between Arsenal FC and FC Bayern Muenchen at Emirates Stadium on March 7, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Arsenal were by far the better of the teams, but after denying the home side a stonewall penalty in the first half, the same extra official ensured Laurent Kocielny was sent off for the mildest pushes on Lewandowki. The new rules state that the officials have to deem it an action without intention to win the ball to warrant a red when a penalty is given. It was soft, to say the least, and killed the tiniest glimmer of hope Arsenal still carried.
Here are the best tweets that I came across as the match developed
0 – 10 mins
https://twitter.com/FCBayernUS/status/839200340784332802
https://twitter.com/RobHarris/status/839200726307995648
https://twitter.com/mat_v_p/status/839202378763100160
10-20 minutes
https://twitter.com/DailyCannon/status/839202980435996673
https://twitter.com/ianmccourt/status/839203084698013700
https://twitter.com/JamrockRover/status/839203150385012736
https://twitter.com/gunnerpunner/status/839203160828829697
https://twitter.com/JamrockRover/status/839203700908392448
https://twitter.com/AmeriGunner/status/839203957713039361
https://twitter.com/DailyCannon/status/839204388732272640
https://twitter.com/goonerathena/status/839204680215498756
https://twitter.com/DailyCannon/status/839204808653422592
https://twitter.com/Arsenes_Eyes/status/839205426445045765
20-30 minutes
https://twitter.com/rockthecasbah77/status/839206073437458432
30-40 minutes
https://twitter.com/JagerShakes/status/839208076670558208
https://twitter.com/Arsenal_Memz/status/839209580143996930
https://twitter.com/7amkickoff/status/839209929420365824
https://twitter.com/tomEurosport/status/839210172589436929
40-45 minutes
https://twitter.com/oilysailor/status/839206205411246080
- during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg match between Arsenal FC and FC Bayern Muenchen at Emirates Stadium on March 7, 2017 in London, United Kingdom.
- Out of contract next summer
- during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg match between Arsenal FC and FC Bayern Muenchen at Emirates Stadium on March 7, 2017 in London, United Kingdom.
- Arsenal’s Spanish defender Hector Bellerin (L) tackles Bayern Munich’s French midfielder Franck Ribery during the UEFA Champions League last 16 second leg football match between Arsenal and Bayern Munich at The Emirates Stadium in London on March 7, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / IKIMAGES / Ian KINGTON (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images)
- Bayern Munich’s Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal (R) heads the ball goalward past Arsenal’s Spanish defender Hector Bellerin during the UEFA Champions League last 16 second leg football match between Arsenal and Bayern Munich at The Emirates Stadium in London on March 7, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / IKIMAGES / Ian KINGTON (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images)
- Arsenal’s English midfielder Theo Walcott shoots and scores during the UEFA Champions League last 16 second leg football match between Arsenal and Bayern Munich at The Emirates Stadium in London on March 7, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Ben STANSALL (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 07: Theo Walcott of Arsenal (R) celebrates as he scores their first goal with Hector Bellerin during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg match between Arsenal FC and FC Bayern Muenchen at Emirates Stadium on March 7, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
- (BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)
- Arsenal’s French striker Olivier Giroud (L) reacts by Bayern Munich’s Spanish midfielder Javier Martinez during the UEFA Champions League last 16 second leg football match between Arsenal and Bayern Munich at The Emirates Stadium in London on March 7, 2017. (BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)
- Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Muenchen.
- during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg match between Arsenal FC and FC Bayern Muenchen at Emirates Stadium on March 7, 2017 in London, United Kingdom.
2nd half
45-55 minutes
https://twitter.com/bayerncentral/status/839217022240239616
https://twitter.com/TimJames1989/status/839217726706995200
https://twitter.com/rockthecasbah77/status/839218377293983744
55-65 minutes
https://twitter.com/dickdotcom/status/839219172114632707
https://twitter.com/GoonerTyler/status/839220618792996865
65-75 minutes
https://twitter.com/nellypop13/status/839222023335337986
https://twitter.com/thegoonerzone/status/839222075147563009
https://twitter.com/wrexy13/status/839222728481722368
https://twitter.com/nana_alaouie/status/839223138953097216
https://twitter.com/curtis_harper/status/839218676586987520
75-85 minutes
https://twitter.com/rockthecasbah77/status/839225265574268930
85-90 minutes
https://twitter.com/afcstuff/status/839227470670884864
In the end, it was as we all expected – an admirable effort after too much damage in the first leg coupled with a seriously dodgy refereeing performance. Next up, Lincoln City.