After Bayern thrash Arsenal, will Guardiola stay?

One day before the Champions League return match against Arsenal 5-1 (3-0), Pep Guardiola seemed to be far away in the universe with his eyes wide open staring at a point light years away instead of sitting behind a curtain of microphones at a press-conference. What was the 44-year-old Spaniard thinking about? 

   Millions of football fans thought about the question as the "will-he-stay-mania" has reached a new climax as TV stations have turned to stargazers for advice, who predict Guardiola will stay. Munich newspapers are interpreting the fact that Guardiola's closest advisers, brother Pere and agent Josep Maria Orobitg, travelled to the city to watch the game against Arsenal as an indication that the much-admired coach will sign a new contract soon.  

   After the 2-0 defeat in London, it does make more sense to assume Guardiola was unduly worried about beating a team that had countered his system with a rather simple and compact system in which they played long balls over Bayerns defense and also hoped to be successful at dead-ball situations. It worked for one game but it was unlikely that it would work for two. 

   For many the home match against Arsenal was overshadowed by the talk of whether Guardiola was going to stay or leave. And some assumed the result and way of the game might have influence. Nevertheless the Spaniard himself, for good reason, had to think about how his team was going to undo a defensively oriented team. 

   Exactly that question seems to follow Guardiola in his Munich time like a shadow, call it his general problem. Looking at that theory, the game against Arsenal was expected to deliver first answers about whether Guardiolas Bayern would be able to handle the problem better in his third year at the club as his squad is regarded better as ever. To try that against a team like Arsenal would be a challenge on a world class level. Take it as a fact: The absent-looking Guardiola was considering how to fulfill his dream of perfect football and not about his future. 

   Guardiolas or better put his teams answers were impressive. Guardiola demanded his team to be more effective in front of the goal, play with more speed, push down the flanks, not only the wingers like Kingsley Coman and Douglas Costa, but also the right and left backs, Philipp Lahm and David Alaba, be more flexible when attacking via the left and right flanks, cross more and change positions as often as you can. 

   Bayern played an exhilarating first half, Arsenal had little time to get their breath back. Keeper Peter Cech was the busiest man on the pitch but was unable to stem the tide. Robert Lewandowski (10th), Thomas Mueller (29th) and David Alaba (44th) gave Munich a 3-0 half-time lead. They were virtually out of sight. 

   Only at the start could Arsenal gain some space, but a Mesut Oezil "goal" was disallowed as the German international used his arm to guide the ball into the net. Otherwise, Bayern were on top winning back any lost balls and generally imposing their will on the game. Meaning: Arsenal could not get near Manuel Neuers goal again and could not get a grip on their opponents. It was a demonstration of a modern football power.

   Bayern thrashed Arsenal. After Arjen Robben came after half time it was soon 4-0 and the team currently lying second in the Premier League were being overrun. The fact that Olivier Giroud reduced the arrears in the 69th minute did not change the one-sided impression of the match. 

   By now Bayern had changed to a lower gear and were cruising. Frustrated, Arsenal had lost their appetite for the contest. In the last 20 minutes Arsenal was lucky not to suffer greater ignominy as Robben and Mueller, not fully concentrated anymore, missed easy chances though the later did add the final goal just before the final whistle.  

   What now is the conclusion of the duel in Munich? Guardiola has got closer to his dream of perfect football. Bayern managed to get things back on track after losing for the first time this season in London. Additionally Bayern have passed their first real test with flying colors. The Germans showed they are definitely one of the favorites, maybe the only big favorite, to win this seasons Champions League. 

   Whether the convincing win delivers a hint about Guardiolas future is uncertain. The coach however was pleased with his teams performance, but said: "Questions about my future are not allowed." Maybe now the rest of the story is left for the stargazers, or Guardiolas advisors. 

   Disregarding if Guardiola can make up his mind for a quick decision Bayern Munich are in group F the top dog (9 points, 13-3 goals) in advance of Greek club Piraeus (9 points, 6-6 goals). Both have made it more or less into the next round already despite of two more games that have to be played.  Endi