Arsenal comfortably dispatched Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday night (3-1) to inflict the Bundesliga champions’ first defeat of the season in all competitions
Joshua Kimmich does not believe Arsenal are the best team Bayern Munich have faced this season
Versatile Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich has launched a staggering attack on Arsenal by claiming Mikel Arteta’s side “rely” on set-pieces.
It’s quite the claim from the Germany international when you consider only one of Arsenal’s three goals on Wednesday night came from a dead-ball situation.
Jurrien Timber glanced home the opener from a corner before Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli struck in the second half to earn the Gunners their fifth successive Champions League victory of the season.
Before the game, Bayern boss Vincent Kompany had conceded that his side had a problem defending set-pieces having shipped four goals from corners and free-kicks in their past two Bundesliga encounters against Union Berlin and Freiburg, respectively.
Kimmich told TNT Sports when asked if Arsenal were the best side Bayern had faced this term: “No, I don’t think so. I think PSG was the toughest one. Especially the way they play.
“Arsenal is completely different. They rely on set pieces. They love to play long balls. They love to fight for second balls. It was a completely different game against PSG. It was more of a football game.
“Today was not so much about football. It was more about game management and duels. Arsenal did this really well tonight. Their win was well deserved but we have to learn from this game.”
Arsenal have lost just one of their 19 matches in all competitions this season after falling short at Anfield in a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool.
Speaking after Wednesday evening’s defeat, Kompany also made it clear he felt Bayern could beat Arsenal if the pair were to meet again.
Jurrien Timber glanced home the opener from a corner for Arsenal against Bayern Munich
The Belgian head coach said: “I’d love to play them again as soon as possible. Hopefully in the latter stages with a good amount of learning from this game.”
Kompany added that there was similar discussion around PSG being the best team in Europe when Bayern beat them 2-1 at the Parc des Princes in early November.
He continued: “We had this discussion three weeks ago when we played PSG. They were mentioning the same thing. I don’t think any of us want to be the best team in November.
“We’re trying to use everything now to build our season towards being there in the important moments.”
Bayern, PSG, Inter Milan and Real Madrid are all on 12 points from their first five Champions League group phase matches having won four and lost once.