Arsenal secured a statement Champions League victory against Bayern Munich on Wednesday evening but one Gunners star still received criticism during the game
Myles Lewis-Skelly
Myles Lewis-Skelly was handed a rare start vs Bayern Munich
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Arsenal star Myles Lewis-Skelly was accused of ‘falling asleep’ during the Gunners’ win against Bayern Munich. The North London side strengthened their hold on top spot in the Champions League as they overcame the German giants 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium.
Jurrien Timber had got Mikel Arteta’s side off to the perfect start, with Noni Madueke and Leandro Trossard scoring in the second-half. The only blot on Arsenal’s copy book was Lennart Karl’s standout equaliser.
Despite the youngster’s brilliant goal, former Arsenal star Paul Merson has suggested that academy graduate Lewis-Skelly had to claim responsibility for an error defensively. Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “Lewis-Skelly falls asleep. It’s a diagonal ball over to Gnabry but he falls asleep Lewis-Skelly, it goes over his head.
“But what a goal, honestly! It goes over the top of Lewis-Skelly, Gnabry made a great run and he just plays a volley across the goal and there’s Karl who comes running in and smashes it in the net.
“It’s a phenomenal goal, a brilliant goal. Karl scores out of nothing. That’s what they’ve scored in their last 775 games!”
And while Lewis-Skelly received criticism from Merson, former Manchester United star Owen Hargreaves was far more lenient. He claimed that Harry Kane’s contribution caused far more confusion for William Saliba instead.
He said: “You can can talk about Lennart Karl, and he is exceptional, but look at Harry Kane, he’s the one causing chaos. He drops a little bit deeper, Gnabry gets wide and it’s a brilliant first-time pass and set.
“But look where Harry Kane is there… it gives William Saliba something to think about. He’s thinking, “Do I go in there?”, but, actually, if he’d stayed in his position he’d probably have stopped the cross.
Lennart Karl
Lennart Karl celebrates his goal vs Arsenal
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“Credit to Gnabry for the cross, it’s amazing, and the finish from young Karl is brilliant. But Harry dropping deep has caused chaos.”
Lewis-Skelly, who was only making his fifth start of the season vs Bayern, was replaced by Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori, who eventually ended up playing a key role by teeing up Madueke’s goal.
Speaking after full-time, Arsenal boss Arteta was full of praise for Calafiori for his contribution. He said: “That's exactly what I told him! Get the ball, go to the flank, cross the ball between the side of the keeper and score a goal.
“I like it because he has such an attitude and aura. He comes in to make things happen and he's always so positive the way he plays. It's great that players come with that mindset.”
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