Thierry Henry spots concerning Arsenal trend as he slams Bayern Munich defeat

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has criticised his former team's performance following their 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich, which saw them exit the Champions League with a 3-2 aggregate defeat.

Despite a more solid defensive effort than in the first leg at the Emirates, Arsenal's offensive efforts were lacking at the Allianz Arena. The Gunners maintained possession and spent considerable time near Bayern's box, yet they struggled to create significant chances throughout the 95 minutes of play, giving Bayern's keeper Manuel Neuer an easy night. Mikel Arteta fielded stars such as Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, and Bukayo Saka from the outset, later bringing on Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard, but it wasn't enough to break through.

Henry, speaking to CBS Sport, did not mince words when evaluating Arsenal's shortcomings in Munich. When asked about what the current Arsenal team lacks, Henry responded: "Putting the ball in the back of the net but today, there wasn't even a lot of chances to do that. I think the two goals [in the first leg] at home were soft. We all know if you make those mistakes in the Champions League you're going to pay the price."

"Today wasn't good enough I would say but there wasn't much in the game. Both teams didn't want to lose so they didn't really go for it. There was a moment of bad decision, not only from Martinelli but [Takehiro] Tomiyasu also, because he did not cover his centre-back for the cross or close that line.", reports the Mirror.

Henry then made an admission about Arsenal's chances in the Champions League this season, pointing out a worrying pattern he has noticed when Arteta's squad faces a congested fixture list.

"But you've asked me so many times, do I think Arsenal can win the Champions League? I say yes because I'm hoping and wishing," Henry said. "But if I take my Arsenal hat off, when we play three games a week, we struggle."

"I don't think we're equipped to play three games a week so maybe it can be a good thing for the Premier League."

The problem identified by Henry is less likely to affect Arsenal for the remainder of the season as they now have just the Premier League to concentrate on. The Gunners have six more league matches to navigate, including challenging visits to Tottenham and Manchester United.

Currently, Arteta's men are in second place, trailing the top spot by two points behind reigning champions Manchester City. The recent loss to Aston Villa was a significant setback, handing the advantage to Pep Guardiola's side.