Bayern Munich drew Arsenal 2-2 on Wednesday night at the Allianz Arena in a heavyweight Champions League bout that fully lived up to its billing.
Down a number of key players for various reasons, Bayern coach Vincent Kompany was forced into creative and last-minute adjustments in his latest duel against Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta. The final roll of the dice featured left-back Alphonso Davies starting at left wing, with Josip Stanišić in his place at left-back and a midfield pairing — absent Joshua Kimmich
— of Tom Bischof and Aleksandar Pavlović.
The Bavarians started passively, with the visitors enjoying the early dominance in possession. However, Bayern looked for chances on the counter, the apparent purpose of featuring the speedy Davies at wing. Harry Kane demonstrated the threat early with an incredible and quickly-taken goal kick that sent Davies away on goal. The result was a ball laid on a platter for Bayern’s opposite winger, Serge Gnabry, whose shot was excellently saved by Arsenal keeper David Raya.
The opening phases of the game was a tale of dueling passing maestros. Arsenal struck first via a smart delivery from Martin Ødegaard for Eberechi Eze in the 25th minute — onside, by a few thin strands of fabric on Josip Stanišić’s right shoulder sleeve. Eze hit paydirt and from there the Gunners threatened to sink a Bayern team still struggling to find its way into the game.
After all, this is a Gunners team that does not concede goals, particularly in the Champions League. But then Kompany’s plans came good, and it had to be via Kane. The England captain was already demonstrating the full range of his passing prowess all night, and in the 35th minute he slipped Davies into the box on a quick transition with a delightful through-ball. Bayern’s Canadian left-back-turned-winger finishing coolly with his weaker right foot past David Raya.
The goal swung the momentum and gave Bayern a way fully into the game they could now openly contest. While hard-earned chances still cropped up at both ends, it was Bayern who struck again first. The Bavarians roared out the gates after half-time, and a Kane shot struck the hand of Jurrien Timber to earn a penalty. Raya was having a terrific night, but was sent the wrong way by Kane’s stutter-step. A day after Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal showed off his Ballon d’Or credentials against Paris Saint-Germain, Kane put his own best foot forward under the brightest of lights.
From there, Bayern tried to assert control and did a fine job of staying on the ball, probing patiently for the chance of a killer third. However, Arsenal could not be kept at bay forever, and Declan Rice, working a slick one-two with substitute striker Viktor Gyökeres, dashed into the box and lasered a goal that even Neuer at his best could not stop.
It had been a good day for Neuer, who made several vital interventions, including one of a ball that was just about crossing the line. Arsenal, true to reputation, was delivering lethal set pieces all night and Bayern and Neuer might count themselves lucky to have scrambled away all of them. In the other goal, Raya was likewise excellent, particularly with a point-blank save of a towering header from Bayern’s do-it-all center-back Dayot Upamecano, who had led the charge forward himself from the defensive lines.
The game was marred by a pair of non-contact injury concerns, one on each side. Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka went down after just ten minutes, clutching his thigh after hitting a pass; he was replaced by Eze. Bayern substitute Luis Díaz, having come on only in the 68th minute, went down in the 90th. Both are key players who could be looking at a spell on the sidelines.
In the end, both teams went for the win and put on a spectacle of top-class football in the process. In a battle of two giants of the competition, shared spoils — with an eye on a potential rematch beyond the league phase — was the only fitting result.
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