Arsenal capitulated against Bayern Munich once again as the Bavarians repeated their first leg scoreline to win 5-1 against the Gunners (10-2 on aggregate).
Arsene Wenger’s team had managed to dominate the first-half and led through Theo Walcott’s 20th-minute stunner, before Bayern were awarded a penalty that also resulted in the sending off of defender Laurent Koscielny.
The Frenchman was initially shown a yellow for his foul on Robert Lewandowski, but it was upgraded to a straight red after referee Anastasios Sidiropoulos decided Koscielny’s effort was not aimed at the ball.
It was a controversial judgement, but it essentially killed Arsenal’s hopes of making it through to the quarter-finals for the first time in seven years as Lewandowski converted the ensuing penalty.
Arsenal home fans watched in silent horror as their team submitted to their fate and let Bayern added four more to their tally.
Arjen Robben put the Bundesliga champions in front after stealing the ball off Alexis Sanchez and beat David Ospina. Douglas Costa then ran from the halfway line before cutting inside and curling in a fine left-foot shot to make it 3-1. Arturo Vidal’s first goal was a cheeky chip over Ospina and the second was teed up by Costa after the two players had run clear.
But even for all their goals, Bayern seemed hardly stretched and looked to be simply biding their time before punishing Arsenal, a team they ousted three times at the Champions League round-of-16. It was mercy when the final whistle sounded, and unfortunately for Wenger and the Gunners it did not come quick enough.