Everyone billed Arsenal vs Bayern Munich as the matchup of Europe’s two most in-form sides, the kind of game where every touch gets replayed and every sprint feels like a statement.
Arsenal walked away with the win on Wednesday night, and their fans treated the Emirates like it was the start of a parade.
But one voice cut through all the hype afterward—Joshua Kimmich’s—who made it pretty clear he didn’t buy into the narrative that Arsenal were the toughest opponents Bayern had met this season.
Arsenal’s Big Moments Under the Lights
The English champions wasted no time stamping their authority.
Jurrien Timber’s header from a corner set the tone, Noni Madueke added his own spark, and Gabriel Martinelli wrapped things up to give Arsenal a huge result in a campaign where they’re leading both the Premier League and the Champions League.
It felt like a showcase of everything Mikel Arteta has built—energy, intensity, and the kind of relentless attitude that makes opponents sweat.
Kimmich Isn’t Convinced They’re Europe’s Top Threat
Kimmich, who patrolled Bayern’s midfield for most of the 81 minutes, wasn’t swept up in the celebration.
When asked whether Arsenal were the strongest side Bayern had faced, he didn’t hesitate.
His answer? PSG, actually.
He described Paris Saint-Germain as the more challenging battle, praising their style and making it clear that the night’s opponents didn’t stress Bayern in quite the same way.
Considering Bayern beat PSG 2–1 earlier in the competition, that comparison adds some weight.
A Comparison Bayern Didn’t Mind Making
Kimmich went a bit further, hinting that Arsenal’s approach wasn’t rooted in pure “football,” at least in his view.
He contrasted them with PSG and suggested Arsenal were more invested in physicality, set plays, and the scrappy moments rather than the open-field creativity Bayern handled in their previous round.
“They go long. They chase second balls.
They push for duels,” he said—almost like he was describing an old-school Premier League team rather than the slick, possession-heavy Arsenal that many associate with Arteta.
The Set-Piece Conversation Arteta Loves Having
To be fair, Arsenal have built a reputation around making set pieces count.
Timber’s goal came straight from one, and Arteta has been openly amused—and proud—about it.
Just days earlier, after a 4–1 win over Tottenham where Arsenal didn’t convert from a set play, Arteta half-joked that he was “upset” they didn’t find the net off one.
For him, a goal is a goal.
Beautiful passing move or ruthlessly rehearsed corner routine—it all adds up the same.
Bayern’s Takeaway: A Lesson, Not a Crisis
Kimmich did give Arsenal their due, emphasizing that they executed their game plan with precision and deserved the win.
But he framed the defeat as a teaching moment for Bayern rather than a knockout blow.
If anything, the message felt like: We’ve seen tougher. We’ll adjust.
So, What Happens Now?
Arsenal keep marching—confident, composed, and a little bit cheeky about their growing mastery of the small details that decide big matches.
Bayern, meanwhile, head back to the drawing board with the belief that this setback isn’t the end of the story.
And if Kimmich’s words are anything to go by, the next chapter might come with a bit of fire in it.
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