Ale Moreno says Arsenal 'can't sit back' in UCL matchup against FC Bayern 🗣️ | ESPN FC
ESPN FC previews Bayern vs Arsenal: Arsenal cannot afford to sit back
The panel previews Bayern Munich vs Arsenal in the Champions League and debates whether Arsenal should contest possession or remain pragmatic and whether that approach can work against elite opponents. The takeaway is that letting Bayern dictate is dangerous, while one guest argues Arsenal can rediscover a more proactive attacking game.
- Arsenal are winning but not playing especially well; results matter more than performance right now — They are strong and on a winning run, but the panel had been critical of their style, and the result is what counts.
- Arsenal's pragmatic, defensive approach may not be enough against the best teams later in the Champions League — Compared with more progressive top sides like Bayern, Barcelona and PSG, Arsenal are more solid and defensive; in a previous big Champions League match they sat back and did not really try to win it.
- Arsenal cannot just sit back; they must challenge Bayern's possession in midfield and attack in transition — Bayern are at their best when they control possession and rhythm; if allowed to dictate, they can expose any defense, while forced turnovers can expose their transition and 1v1 defending.
- A key Bayern absence could be a blow, but Bayern's bench depth should let them find a solution against Arsenal — The missing player is influential and can change a game, but Bayern have enough depth on the bench.
- It is wrong to reduce Arsenal to a conservative side; they were attractive and offensive earlier in the season, and Arteta may push them to play that way again — Before the defeat to Brighton and the long international break, Arsenal had moved away from just defending and played well offensively; they later reverted, but they have shown the more proactive version is possible.
Jurgen Klinsmann, Frank Leboeuf, Ale Moreno and Craig Burley join Kay Murray on ESPN FC to preview the Champions League matchup between FC Bayern and Arsenal. ✔️ Subscribe to ESPN Unlimited: https://plus.espn.com/ ESPN ESPNFC
Transcript
Big game coming up tomorrow though. It's Bayern Munich against Arsenal as we [music] bring in the guys to talk more about this. Bayern a favorite in this game. How are they looking to you? >> Well, they're waking up step by step. You know, it's October Fest is done. So, they're getting back down to work and and uh yeah, it will be it will be a very a very very interesting game. I I think you know Arsenal is is is uh yeah is doing well as as well and and I think this is one of the the games you definitely want to watch tomorrow. >> Yeah. Bayern were beaten 3-1 by Arsenal in the Champions League last November and apparently they want to set the record straight. >> Oh, I'm I'm sure that's the reason why. I'm sure that's the reason why. Yes, >> that's coming from the German media. >> Oh, you were hanging out with Germans this weekend at an October Fest party. I >> talked to Derek Rail. They actually funny enough he did Spanish game. Yeah. He thought I butt dialed him which he probably did. >> But uh >> what are you what are you expecting here? >> Uh well I'm expecting Bayern Munich to be Bayern Munich right and play the way they do in terms of their philosophy particularly Vincent company. >> Remember what happened against V King? >> Wow. >> 33. >> Yeah it's a distant >> distant me just last week but we were >> and at least sending off. Yeah, we were pretty critical of Arsenal at the weekend some somewhere anyway. Uh in terms of their style, as Jurgen said, they're strong and they're winning at the moment. Uh and they do look strong. They're not playing particularly good football. Now, that that's irrelevant really because it's about about results. But the interesting thing in this game for me will be will Arsenal try to up their possession game in terms of controlling Bayern Munich. Will they try to control it or will they allow Bayern the possession of the ball? because I think that is dangerous and I think you know this is going to be a a little marker for for for Arsenal in terms of the Champions League of how they're going to approach it because again harping back to the Champions League final I just thought that approach which ultimately they lost I mean it went all the way but they they lost the game but they never really tried to win it they tried to sit back and all the other teams have got the opposite approach the top teams Bayern Basa PSG G. Uh, and I would put Arsenal in as the fourth team of all those of of the strongest. Three of them have got a really progressive way of playing and Arsenal have got a very, you know, solidified, you know, more defensive uh, approach. And that's not to criticize them. That's just telling you how they are and that's how Aetta has been operating. I'm just not sure when it gets to the nitty-gritty that approach is going to be successful. and we've just talked about the PSG Bassa game tonight. I'm not sure sure that approach is going to cut it against the better teams later in the tournament. So that's what I'm looking for tomorrow is how Arsenal are going to try and deal with Bayern Munich >> as compared to the teams that you just mentioned PSG and Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Arsenal are far more pragmatic and yes they're efficient. Yes, they're effective. Yes, they're winning games and all those things cannot be denied and there is something to be said about that and the consistency of their performances whatever you may think of their level of play but they continue to win matches but you have to challenge the possession of Bayern Munich. Bayern Munich are at their best when they control everything when they control possession when they control rhythm of game. If you just if you just going to sit back and allow them to dictate how the game is going to play I don't care how solid you may think you are defensively they have enough in the attack to expose you. So you have to challenge that possession in the middle third. If you do that and force turnovers, now you're going to expose some of the things that even a team like Vicking was able to expose last week that you get out in transition against Bayern Munich and they have difficulties defending 1v1 situations. And so if I'm Arsenal, I can't just sit back. I have to challenge some of that possession in the middle third and trying to get out in transition if I force a turnover. >> And no, Michael Elise Frank. Yes, can be a blow for for Bayern Munich because we know how influential he is and how his talent can change a game and uh but I want to believe that the Bayern Munich has uh has some death on the bench and they can find a solution against Arsenal. But I allow me to disagree with the guys on the in the studio with with Arsenal. Yes, they be they came back to where they who they were uh let's say in the Champions League final and the season before. But when they started the the the new season, I found them very attractive and they and they and they played very well offensively. And we say okay, they understood that they cannot only defend and be as Alice just said pragmatic. They they decided to to to change their game and to play differently until they lost 3-0 against Brighton and until we had that long international break. They came back and yes I agree they became they went back to to who they were. So maybe and because again what of what Craig and and Ali said Bayern Bik is capable of uh of being very good if they have the ball maybe Arteta will push their players to his players to to be like they were at the beginning of the season. So offensive still solid but offensive which is possible. They showed that to us. >> Yeah. Well, we will find out tomorrow. More Champions League coming your way tomorrow. We'll be covering it all on ESPN FC. Looking back on games like Ko against Manchester United. That's one of the early games at Bayern Munich against Arsenal. As mentioned, it's Villa taking on VKN this time around. and Real Madrid will be facing [music] Leipzig. >> [music]