Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich claimed that Arsenal’s Champions League win “was not so much about football” and insisted that Paris Saint-Germain were a tougher opponent.
The German champions defeated PSG earlier this month despite playing more than half the contest with 10 men, yet found themselves on the end of a 3–1 reverse against Arsenal on Wednesday evening.
Mikel Arteta’s hosts took a first-half lead through Jurriën Timber from Arsenal’s first corner of the game. Bayern struck back 10 minutes later through teenager Lennart Karl, but the Gunners assumed control after the interval, ultimately running out as convincing winners to establish a stranglehold at the summer of the Champions League’s league phase table.
Immediately after Bayern’s first defeat of 2025–26, Kimmich was asked if the north London outfit were the hardest foes his side have faced. The Germany international disagreed. “I think PSG was our toughest [opponent] especially the way they play football,” he told .
“Arsenal is completely different. They rely on set pieces. They love to play the long balls. They love to fight for the second balls. It’s a completely different game.
“Against PSG, it’s more a football game,” Kimmich scathingly added. “Today, it was not so much about football. It was more about game management, it was more about the duels. Arsenal did this really, really well tonight. The win was well deserved, we have to learn [from] it.”
Arsenal did crack open the contest through a set-piece but they were not short of chances from situations outside of corners. The Gunners scored twice and racked up an xG of 1.58 from open play, compared to Bayern’s 0.47, per .
