Arsenal 2, Bayern Munich 2
After seven long years of longing for an equitable battle with Bayern Munich, Arsenal finally showed their mettle in an entrancing quarter-final that ended in a nerve-wracking draw. Their comeback in the second half was peachy, especially considering they had squandered their early advantage and ignited flashbacks of the humbling 5-1 defeats from their last three encounters.
Arsenal found themselves trailing after strikes by Serge Gnabry and a penalty hit home by Harry Kane negated Bukayo Saka’s previous goal. However, the Gunners demonstrated resolve to sidestep any recurrence against the previously wavering, but now resounding Bavarians. Their resolve yielded dividends when Leandro Trossard, coming on as a substitute, netted an equaliser with a brilliant strike just 14 minutes before the final whistle. This surely provided a temporary reprieve for those curious about which version of Bayern Munich was going to turn up.
Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager, had recalled the snobbish confidence exuding from Bayern’s recurring winners whenever Arsenal braced themselves for what used to seem like an annual disgrace back in the mid-2010s. However, the only reminders of that distressing period in this match were Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, and three of Bayern’s substitutes. Perhaps, improved morale was stimulated by the sight of Kane readying himself for the kick-off.
For all the chatter about Bayern’s trials and tribulations, Arteta recognised they were up against a formidable side with a rich history and the innate resolve of victors. He called on the home crowd, unusually partisan due to the visiting fans’ absence, to boost Arsenal’s spirits, and they delivered. The air sizzled with the significance of Arsenal’s come-back to the upper echelons of football.
Within a span of 12 minutes, the sizzle turned into a bang. Arsenal had already warned Bayern they might intensify the match, with Gabriel Martinelli taking a near-miss shot after Saka got the better of Alphonso Davies. Their persistent drive paid off when Davies partially impeded Saka’s advance down the right. Kai Havertz outwitted Gnabry for the stray ball and smoothly passed it to Ben White, who smartly returned it to Saka inside the box. Saka, the receiver, deftly positioned the ball before driving a stunning low shot to Neuer’s right.
Davies, who had already received a booking for fouling Saka that could potentially see him miss the second leg, had had a shaky start, as had his fellow players. Havertz swooped on a stray header from Gnabry within four minutes of the first goal and connected with White on the offensive. Had a striker been at the other end, a goal would have been certain; however, a save by Neuer underlined Bayern’s defensive shortcomings, which have been a source of frustration this season, but the failure to score was a significant moment.
While Bayern undoubtedly have their weaknesses, they also have a knack for scoring when it matters. Arsenal’s frustration was compounded by the seemingly effortless goal they conceded. Gabriel Magalhães had time and space inside his own half, but a misguided pass prompted by David Raya’s decision to move 45 yards from the net was directed haphazardly towards Jakub Kiwior. Leroy Sané intercepted it and quickly passed to Leon Goretzka, which set up Gnabry for a clever finish against his former club.
In an unexpected turn of events, Bayern managed to score a second goal just after the half-hour mark. Arsenal could only blame themselves for their defensive blunder. Sané managed to slice through their defence unchallenged, and after jukes from Jorginho and Gabriel missed, William Saliba clumsily stepped in. The penalty kick was inevitably going to be taken by Kane who, nonplussed by the 60,000 spectators jeering, kept his cool and slotted it in.
Sané nearly made it three when he broke free into an unprotected Arsenal half, a scene reminiscent of previous humiliations. It was White who prevented the scoreline from increasing and, potentially, also saved the match.
It was not surprising that Kiwior, who had a difficult game at left back, was substituted for Oleksandr Zinchenko in the second half. Arsenal needed to find a balance between revitalising their offence and not conceding additional goals. Meanwhile, Bayern had gained momentum and became more combative. Kane overstepped when he fouled Gabriel with an elbow. His punishment arguably should have been more severe than the issued yellow card.
In a match that saw the 57th minute waver with an unimpressively wide move from Goretzka, it seemed that a Bayern goal was slightly more probable than an Arsenal score as the clock ticked towards the hour. Witnessing a notable decline in enthusiasm from his squad, Arteta sought to rouse the crowd, in hopes of lifting the spirits of his troops. But the refreshed tenacity of Bayern was best demonstrated with Eric Diert’s powerful yet fair tackle on Martinelli, a player who had been the subject of relentless ridicule from the audience. They then almost sealed the deal when Sané, from a challenging angle, shot just over the crossbar.
Newcomers Trossard and Gabriel Jesus were then introduced and offered the inventive moves that Arsenal seemed to have lost since the score initially swung against them. Jesus baffled Matthijs de Ligt with his nimble footwork into the penalty area and deftly set up his teammate for a first-time sweeping finish all within a brief span of 10 minutes. Towards the end of the game, a potential goal from Kingsley Coman’s shot that hit the post and Saka’s rejected penalty appeal left the match in a tense standoff.