Arsenal's Champions League journey ended at the Allianz Arena, with Joshua Kimmich heading Bayern Munich into the semi-finals.
A 2-2 draw in the first leg left the tie delicately poised ahead of the game at the Allianz Arena. Arsenal felt they should have had an opportunity to take a lead with them to Bavaria, only for a late penalty appeal to be waved away, while Bayern weren't happy about one refereeing call themselves.
After a goalless first half, Bayern were desperately close to going ahead barely a minute after the restart when Leon Goretzka and Raphael Guerreiro hit the post in quick succession. They got their goal shortly after the hour mark, though, with Kimmich flying into the box and powering a header beyond David Raya.
There were chances for the hosts to add to their lead, with Leroy Sana squandering an opportunity moments after the opener. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta made changes in search of the equaliser which would have taken the game to extra-time, but it wasn't to be.
Harry Kane, who scored from the penalty spot in the first leg, sent the first chance of the game wide of David Raya's goal. It took 20 minutes for the visitors to get close to threatening Manuel Neuer, with Gabriel Martinelli twisting through a couple of challenges but failing to get a shot away.
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Arsenal's back-line needed to be at its best, with a desperate Ben White block stopping Noussair Mazraoui finishing off a quick break and David Raya saving well from Jamal Musiala's speculative effort. At the other end, Neuer struggled to deal with a Martin Odegaard effort from the edge of the box.
Bayern turned the screw early in the second half, coming inches from an opener, wile Arsenal got a let-off when Gabriel almost scored an own-goal after a breakdown in communication with David Raya. The visitors could only survive so many let-offs, though, and Kimmich made the breakthrough after escaping his marker and giving Raya no chance.
And so it's Bayern who move into the semis, with Arsenal left to focus on their Premier League title challenge. Here are Mirror Football 's talking points from a tough night for the Gunners.
1. Martinelli's night to forget
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Gabriel Martinelli had some difficult moments in Munich (Getty Images)In a first half of few clear chances, Arsenal missed the best of the bunch. Gabriel Martinelli was given the nod ahead of first-leg scorer Leandro Trossard, and the Brazilian hit a snapshot straight down the throat of Neuer when slightly better aim would surely have sent the ball into the back of the net.
Martinelli hadn't scored in more than a month, last netting in the win at Sheffield United before the international break. In practice that's only meant five matches, four as a sub, but that's still quite a long time for someone who really got into his scoring groove last season.
Not only that, but the Brazilian's defensive lapse allowed Bayern to get their noses in front. It appeared to be Arsenal's number 11 who failed to track Kimmich's run, and he was withdrawn for Leandro Trossard before having time to make amends.
2. Tomiyasu tweak works up to a point
Takehiro Tomiyasu was backed at left-back by Mikel Arteta (Getty Images)After starting Jakub Kiwior at left-back in the first leg, Mikel Arteta opted to give Takehiro Tomiyasu the nod in Germany. It was the Japan international's first start since December, but question marks over recent performances from Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko prompted the Arsenal manager to shuffle the pack.
Leroy Sane impressed for Bayern at the Emirates Stadium and there was perhaps a hope that Tomiyasu could keep the German winger quiet. He was caught out a little after the quarter-hour mark, though a covering team-mate was able to deal with the threat after Sane got in behind and drove towards the byline.
It was a change made not just for this game, but perhaps with the rest of the season in mind. Tomiyasu arguable showed he has enough to be trusted in the league as well, but the next teamsheet will show whether or not Arteta agrees.
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3. Kane marshalled well but to no avail
Harry Kane was involved in a hard-fought battle with Arsenal's centre-backs (Getty Images)Harry Kane went into this gameweek as the Champions League's leading scorer thanks to his penalty at the Emirates Stadium, but had lost that honour before kick-off thanks to Kylian Mbappe's double for Paris Saint-Germain in Barcelona.
The England striker enjoyed an impressive record against Arsenal while on Tottenham's books, but wasn't able to score from open play in North London. After a couple of early chances, he was mostly kept quiet by William Saliba and Gabriel in the first half at the Allianz Arena.
Bayern were without the suspended Alphonso Davies and the injured Serge Gnabry, reducing their options out wide, but Kane has been able to score goals with any kind of supporting cast. This time, though, he didn't need to.
4. Tuchel's cup pedigree shows
Thomas Tuchel has won the Champions League before and is aiming to take a third team to the final (AFP via Getty Images)Part of the logic behind Thomas Tuchel's appointment at Bayern was his Champions League pedigree. The manager won the competition with Chelsea in 2021, having led Paris Saint-Germain to the final 12 months earlier.
Even his near-misses have been dramatic. Chelsea almost came back from a 3-1 home defeat against Real Madrid in 2022, despite the Blues losing two of their three league games around the double-header.
Mikel Arteta, in contrast, was leading Arsenal in the Champions League for the first time. Sometimes experience tells in this competition, and there's every chance the London side will come back stronger next year.
5. Arsenal's wait goes on
Arsenal will have to regroup as they prepare to return to domestic action (Getty Images)It was more than a decade since Arsenal even got this far in the Champions League. With that in mind, there will be plenty of positives to take once the dust has settled, even if it won't feel like that right now.
The last-16 victory over Porto showed the team's grit and fighting spirit, while they battled back well to earn a draw in the first leg. Ultimately, though, they may feel their failure to take full advantage at 1-0 up in the first leg proved their undoing.
With Arsenal in the tougher half of the draw, there was never any guarantee a spot in the semis would see them cruise through to the final. There's always next year.
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