Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes his side wasted too many opportunities to place Wednesday’s Champions League round of 16 tie beyond their opponents Bayern Munich.
The Gunners failed to place themselves in contention for a last-eight berth as second-half goals from Toni Kroos and Thomas Muller gave the reigning European and German champions a 2-0 win at the Emirate Stadium.
It was a night to regret for, Wenger, his players and the home faithful after Mesut Ozil carelessly squandered an early penalty before goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny got his marching order for fouling Arjen Roben eight minutes to the interval.
Arsenal started the tie in dominant fashion and were rewarded with a penalty after only nine minutes when Ozil was fouled by Jerome Boateng as he tried to turn inside the defender.
Ozil stepped up for the spot-kick, only for his run-up to end with a feeble tap on the ball, which was kept out by Manuel Neuer.
“I prefer people ran properly at the ball,” Wenger opined on Ozil’s penalty-taking technique. “Everybody has their own style, there is not one way of penalty taking.
“I think it affected Mesut. He was still shaking his head five or 10 minutes after that.”
The French boss insists referee Nicola Rizzoli’s sending-off decision “killed the game”,
Szczesny looked to have clipped Robben’s leg after the Netherlands winger beat the Pole to Kroos’ lofted pass.
“The referee made a decision that killed the game,” Wenger added.
“Our keeper went for the ball, he touched Robben, who made more of it.
“Robben has enough experience to know to make more of it.
“If there is contact it is a penalty. I dispute many times it is a red card. If it is a rule, you have to accept it.”
Arsenal won 2-0 in the second-leg of their tie with the same opponent and in the same stage of the competition last season, but lost out on away goals, after the Bavarians secured a 3-0 win in London.
Bayern however look much stronger under Spaniard Pep Guardiola, having lost only once in 36 matches in all competitions- to Manchester City in the Champions League group stage.
Wenger said: “We won at the Allianz Arena last season, we will have to try and do the same.”
