For the first time in more than a decade, Arsenal finally earned their first victory over Bayern Munich, and this time, ended what has been an unbeaten start to the season, which has made the Bavarians the best team in the world.
Before their trip to the Emirates, Bayern Munich had won 18 and drawn one in 19 games across all competitions this season, scored at least two in each of these games, and kept consistent positive attacking numbers.
They were the highest scoring team in Europe and had the joint most Champions League goals alongside defending champions Paris Saint-Germain, whom they had beaten 2-1 away at the Parc des Princes earlier in the competition.
Vincent Kompany’s side were the team to beat, but Arsenal, who have also been a class of their own, especially defensively, have played themselves into the position to beat any team, and that was well communicated to the Bavarians on Wednesday night.
Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich: A win for fans
Bayern Munich, dominant in the opening exchanges, conceded a lot of chances, but the host would not capitalize until Jurrien Timber headed home Bukayo Saka’s corner to break the deadlock at the end of the first quarter.
Serge Gnabry teed up youngster Lennart Karl for the leveler two minutes after the half-hour, and it was well deserved, although the visitors never truly created any real danger.
A long ball from Joshua Kimmich left Myles Lewis-Skelly in no man’s land as he was unable to track the run of Gnabry, and the former Hale Ender squared a first-time ball to Karl, who beat David Raya from close range.
It was the first goal conceded by Arsenal in the Champions League this season, meaning Mikel Arteta’s team has now failed to keep a clean sheet in three straight games, their longest drought this season.
However, there was only one side after the interval, and Arsenal, who controlled every phase of the game, restored their lead through first-half substitute, Noni Madueke, who got on the end of an inviting cross from Riccardo Calafiori to score his first goal for the club in the 69th minute.
Another substitute, Gabriel Martinelli, continued his scoring run in the competition, making it four goals in as many matches by applying a deft touch to skip away from Manuel Neuer following a long ball from Eberechi Eze, before slotting into the empty net 13 minutes from time.
Arsenal sealed a 3-1 victory to maintain their perfect record in this season’s Champions League, moving above their opponent on the night, and stretching their perfect Champions League group/league phase winning home run to 10 out of 10 under Mikel Arteta.
A statement to rivals
Arsenal have won all of their opening five games in a Champions League season for the first time since 20 years ago in 2005-06, the season they reached their only final in the competition.
The victory over Bayern Munich meant all the teams that Arsenal have faced under Mikel Arteta in the Champions League have all been beaten by the Gunners, who conquered Bayern Munich, the only one to have slipped from their grasp in the past.
They have had their shortcomings even when they looked at their best, but the lack of players due to injuries has been the major threat to their quest to win big.
That will no longer be an issue going forward.Last night, the Arsenal was without three first-choice players in their starting XI, with captain Martin Ødegaard, who recently returned from injury, named on the bench, while Gabriel Magalhaes and Viktor Gyokeres remained on the sideline.
In past seasons, these major absences could have hurt their chances and impacted the result, but the current side has more than enough in their Arsenal to overcome such hurdles.
Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka had to be taken off with the game still in the balance, and when some would have thought it was game over, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli came off the bench to score and win the game.
Mikel Arteta even chose to trust in Cristhian Mosquera in the absence of Gabriel, despite having Piero Hincapie, who was on the back of a North London derby masterclass on his maiden Premier League start.
The depth is scary, and their ability to score via every means possible is scarier. And if there’s anything rival fans should be more worried about, is the fact that the team is not even all set yet.
The days Arsenal fans have always wished for unfolding in their eyes, and the hioe will now be that the team maintain consistency until the end of the season because as Vincent Kompany said, ‘nobody wants to be the best team in November’.
Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi
