One of the world’s top centre-backs Mats Hummels has made a sly dig at West Ham and Arsenal after the London rivals crashed out of Europe.
It has been a difficult week for West Ham and Arsenal after exiting Europe.
Both clubs faced German sides in their respective Europa League and Champions League quarter-final ties.
Somewhat ironically West Ham had a tougher draw than Arsenal as they faced unbeaten Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.
It’s not often you would say that with the Gunners taking on European giants Bayern Munich.
The Hammers lost 3-1 on aggregate despite a valiant second leg effort at the London Stadium.
Meanwhile Mikel Arteta’s Gunners were beaten 3-2 over two legs by Bayern.
It was the first leg of both ties which ultimately proved West Ham and Arsenal’s undoing, though.
Hammers and Gunners crash out of Europe
David Moyes set West Ham up ultra defensively away at Leverkusen – despite a clear warning from a German football expert.
The Hammers conceded two tired, sloppy late goals to give themselves a mountain to climb. They almost managed it back in London with Michail Antonio giving them a 1-0 lead.
But Moyes’ side spurned a host of chances and Jeremie Frimpong scored a breakaway goal to kill the tie at the death.
Arsenal’s hopes looked dashed when they could only draw 2-2 in the first leg at the Emirates despite Bayern having no fans present due to a ban.
A 1-0 defeat in Germany would seal their fate.
The defeats had wider implications for English football – and particularly fierce rivals Spurs.
Mats Hummels makes sly dig at West Ham and Arsenal
The Premier League was in a head-to-head race with Bundesliga for an extra Champions League place.
So the two German sides advancing at the expense of West Ham and Arsenal means that will now go to Bundesliga instead and only the top four will make the Champions League in the Prem.
With Man City and Liverpool crashing out of Europe too, questions have been raised over whether England’s top flight can still be regarded the best league in the world.
Last season West Ham and Man City ensured that was without question as they both became European champions by winning the Champions League and Europa Conference League.
Many English football fans refer to other European leagues such as Bundesliga and Ligue 1 as “Farmers Leagues”.
The disparaging moniker suggests the Prem is vastly superior from top to bottom and players have it much easier in Germany.
Now one of the country’s leading players has rubbed some salt in the wound for the Hammers and Gunners.
German defender revels in Bayer and Bayern victories
Mats Hummels has made a sly dig at West Ham and Arsenal after the London rivals crash out of Europe.
The Borussia Dortmund and Germany defender helped his side into the Champions League semi-finals with a 5-4 aggregate victory over Atletico Madrid.
And he had a pop at West Ham, Arsenal and English fans when Bayer and Bayern joined him in the last four of European competition.
“Good harvesting this week my fellow farmers,” Hummels said alongside handshake and German flag emojis in a message to Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich after they sent West Ham and Arsenal packing.
I guess on this occasion the Hammers and Gunners just have to ‘hold that L’ as they say.
But Hummels is getting a touch carried away here.
The Premier League is still undoubtedly infinitely stronger than Bundesliga as a division.
Prem’s superiority cannot be questioned
Proof if it is needed comes in the fact Bayern had won Bundesliga 12 years in a row until Bayer’s triumph this season. Whereas there have been five different Premier League champions in the last decade alone.
West Ham actually made Leverkusen look pretty average for the most part over their two games.
Had Moyes not been so ridiculously defensive in the first leg and had a go at Xabi Alonso’s side then the result could and probably would have been very different.
The usually dominant Bayern were also forced to play a completely alien low block, counter-attacking style to scrape past the Gunners.
In knockout competition, anything can happen. So it’s a bit rich to suggest Bundesliga is suddenly stronger than the Premier League.
Germany may now get that extra spot for next season’s new-look Champions League.
But such is the mutual dislike of Tottenham in both camps, Arsenal and West Ham won’t care a jot.
