Kimmich Rates PSG Over Arsenal After UCL Loss

Bayern Munich captain Joshua Kimmich has controversially refuted the idea that Arsenal is the toughest team the Bundesliga side has faced this season, despite suffering a 3-1 defeat to the Gunners in the Champions League on Wednesday night. The midfielder suggested Arsenal’s style of play “is not so much about football.”

Kimmich instead insisted that Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) provided a far more difficult and aesthetically pleasing test, despite Bayern having previously beaten the French side. The comments came following Bayern’s first defeat of the season against Mikel Arteta’s squad.

In the match, Jurrien Timber put Arsenal ahead after twenty-two minutes, but seventeen-year-old Lennart Karl leveled the scores ten minutes later for Bayern. The home side secured the win in the second half with goals from substitutes Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli, opening a three-point gap at the top of the Champions League table.

When asked by TNT Sports Brasil if Arsenal were the toughest opponents faced this season, Kimmich quickly disagreed. “No, I don’t think so. I think PSG was the toughest one, especially the way they play football,” he stated.

He then contrasted Arsenal’s approach, claiming they are “completely different.” Kimmich noted that the Gunners “rely on set-pieces” and “love to play the long balls” and “fight for the second balls.”

The Germany International concluded his tactical assessment by differentiating the two encounters. “Against PSG, it’s more of a football game. Today, it was not so much about football, it was about game management, it was more about the duels.” He did, however, concede that Arsenal executed their plan well, admitting the win was deserved.

Arsenal, now buoyed by the victory over the former European champions, will prepare for a top-of-the-table clash in the Premier League. They travel to face rivals Chelsea, who themselves claimed a notable 3-0 victory over Barcelona earlier this week, at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.