Bayern Munich were unhappy with Arsenal’s first goal during their 3-1 defeat within the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Mikel Arteta’s side took the lead through Jurrien Timber’s header from Bukayo Saka’s corner but Bayern equalised with a close-range strike from Lennart Karl. Arsenal stepped up a gear within the second half and went ahead again through Noni Madueke before Gabriel Martinelli capitalised on Neuer’s mistake to seal the victory.
Nevertheless, Bayern consider Timber must have been penalised by Italian referee Marco Guida for barging into Neuer moments before Saka took the corner.
‘I used to be obviously off balance, that’s clear, after which I used to be in a special position than I might have liked after which I couldn’t get forward as much,’ Neuer said.
‘You already know how they do it with set-pieces. The referees know that too. I don’t know concerning the Premier League but they’ve done it that way internationally as well.
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‘I’m not a goalkeeper who throws himself to the bottom. You’ve seen others do this. Possibly that might have helped in this case. But principally, you may have to maintain going until the referee blows his whistle. After which, possibly, there’s a free kick.
‘But there isn’t a criticism from me after the sport. Those things will eventually occur on our side too where we experience situations like that then we rating a goal like that.’
Bayern’s Munich board member for sport, Max Eberl, also believes Timber must have been punished for nudging into Neuer but praised Arsenal for his or her overall approach to the sport.
‘He [Neuer] is blocked and obstructed before the ball is played and once the ball is within the air, he is solely not coordinated,’ Eberl said.
‘I’m not saying they won luckily but based on the second half they deserved to win since it’s simply inconceivable to defend, they create chaos.
‘You possibly can’t defend against chaos. They confuse you, they are available as a unit, they stay long, stay in the center, come short – you recognize they’re positioned with three or 4 men in one in all those spots. But you only don’t know when and where.
‘On top of that, they’ve outstanding crossers like Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka. It’s one in all their biggest strengths, it’s no coincidence that they’ve scored 50 per cent of their goals from set-pieces within the last two years. That’s an exceptional figure and it shows. They train it, they also have a dedicated coach for it and it’s evident.’
Former Manchester United goalkeeper, Peter Schmeichel, also agreed with Bayern’s criticism for Arsenal’s first goal.
‘For me, that’s a transparent foul because Timber pushes Neuer and throws him off balance,’ Schmeichel told German network Ran at half time.
‘That’s why he can’t get to the ball afterwards and Timber then scores the goal.’
Nevertheless, former Bayern Munich and Germany midfielder, Michael Ballack, insisted that Arsenal’s opening goal was right to face.
‘For me, it wasn’t enough for a foul, a traditional challenge, undeserving of a penalty,’ he told DAZN.
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