The final whistle blew at the Allianz turf, and a few Arsenal players collapsed, but not Declan Rice. He briefly went down on his haunches but soon stood upright, congratulating Bayern players, shaking hands with his team-mates, and acknowledging the traveling Arsenal supporters. He showed appreciation for their support with raised hands in applause.

There were no tears or attempts to hide. It’s an understatement to say that Rice did not live up to his potential as the potential game-changer in this match. His contribution over the two legs was ordinary, and he was notably absent when Joshua Kimmich scored the goal that secured Bayern Munich’s place in the Champions League’s last four.

It seems likely that he will not win a trophy in his first season with Arsenal. Despite falling below his usual standards, Rice will face the situation and learn from it. This also applies to many Arsenal players who failed to perform to their potential in Munich and at the Emirates in the first leg.

This is a learning curve for them, both individually and as a squad. In terms of talent and quality, they were on par with Bayern, but there was a significant gap in terms of game management. When in the final third, they either panicked or failed to make the right decisions, and their nerves made execution difficult.

Arsenal’s night was defined by sloppiness brought on by edginess, and the absence of a high-quality target man didn’t help. The season has been long and demanding for a squad that still lacks the depth to compete at the highest level in European football. Despite having moments of opportunity over the two legs, they were ultimately outsmarted, outthought, and outplayed by a more experienced team.

As the final whistle blew, Rice knew this, and he, along with his teammates, will learn from it.