Arsenal vs Bayern Munich live reaction (2024)

• 12’: Bukayo Saka curled a shot past Manuel Neuer for opening goal
• 18’: Former Arsenal player Serge Gnabry levelled on counter-attack
• 32’: Harry Kane scored from the spot to put Bayern in front
• 76’: But Leo Trossard levelled at 2-2 after great work by Gabriel Jesus
• 90+5’: Saka collided with Neuer in box late on but no penalty given
• Return leg to be played in Germany next Wednesday April 17

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“You are going to have magic moments,” said the Arsenal manager ahead of facing Bayern. “At a certain stage, at a certain moment, in the competition, in the tie, something exceptional has to happen.

“We are now creating a new history and that is why those moments that we had in the group stages, for qualifying first and now what we did with Porto, is really important as it generates belief, a sense of positivity in the team that when the moment comes, we can overcome it and go through.”

That is why his number one priority going into the run-in was to have a fully fit squad. When he looked to the bench at 2-1 down, he saw players he could trust in Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus.

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Arsenal did not perform badly, but the two first-half goals they conceded displayed how undermining uncertainty can be for a back line.

They have had total control of games in the Premier League since returning from the winter break, with clarity in most of their actions. The mistakes that led to Serge Gnabry’s equaliser and Harry Kane’s penalty were both results of overthought and inaction — traits that have not cost Arsenal since the first half of the season.

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If there has been one consistent Bayern Munich problem this season, it has been issues against transition.

When they lose possession, or if their opponent can move upfield at any speed, they have regularly been unable to cover breaking players or fill the developing space. You can trace that problem all the way back to the German Super Cup.

How interesting then to see them profit in the reverse: to face a team having possession in the quantities they usually enjoyed, be forced to simplify their football, and actually look better for it.

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Arsenal returning to the Champions League has come with a need to prove themselves. Many of their players had not played consistently at this level before this season — and one of those players was Bukayo Saka.

The winger has been a consistent performer since he broke through at age 18 but still needed to announce himself among Europe’s elite. Regardless of the scoreline against Bayern Munich, he has done that with more direct goal involvements than any other Arsenal player in the Champions League this season (eight).

Read more at the link below

You rarely hear it said that defenders are playing as individuals — that’s a criticism levelled at attacking players — but if ever that was true of a team, then it is of this Bayern Munich.

They do little collectively. There’s no trust in their surrounding system. As a result, even talented players such as De Ligt are reduced to punchlines through their individual errors — see him being rag-dolled for the second Arsenal goal — and the goals keep going in.

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Well, lots of things. Don't invade Russia in the winter, don't trust Brutus, so on and so on.

But as for the return leg at the Allianz Arena next week!

• Bayern Munich have drawn an away first leg of a two-legged UCL knockout tie eight previous times, going on to advance from the tie in six of those eight instances. Both times they failed to progress, the team that beat them went on to win the whole tournament.
• Arsenal, meanwhile, have drawn a home first leg three previous times, going on to advance from only one of those instances, against AC Milan back in 2008.

Coming into today's match, Opta gave Arsenal a 57 per cent probability of advancing from this tie, compared to 43 per cent for Bayern Munich.

Now that the first leg at the Emirates has ended in a draw, Opta gives Bayern the advantage, with a probability of 51 per cent to Arsenal's 49.

Much of the post-game conversation has revolved around whether Bukayo Saka should have been given a penalty for his late collision with Manuel Neuer, but Thomas Tuchel has instead claimed that Bayern Munich are the team that should have had a spot kick, saying: "It was a huge mistake in not giving a hand(ball) penalty. He told our players it’s a kids mistake and he won’t give it in a Champions League quarter-final. It is a huge mistake."

On the Saka-Neuer decision, he added: "I saw contact. I didn’t see the replay. For me I thought the ball was lost, it was more of a follow-through. The action started from Saka but I might be wrong, I was 60 metres away."

Thomas Tuchel spoke to Amazon after the match: "We could have won it at the end, we had the huge chance with Kingsley (Coman hitting the post). It was a tough night against a very good opponent. The fans were really behind Arsenal, so the result is okay.

"We knew we had to play better for 90 minutes than we did in (our defeat last time out at) Heidenheim, that was clear. It was necessary here. It was difficult. We've got a draw so the situation is clear, the winner moves on.

"We're playing at home, we need this kind of atmosphere from the fans and we need the same devotion, passion and quality as we had tonight – and we'll get through."

Harry Kane, speaking to TNT Sports, added: "Having no fans here tonight was tough. Having a full stadium (next week) will push us on. We had a big chance to go 3-1 up but Leroy (Sane) didn't put it away unfortunately.

"It's been an amazing experience in Germany personally. To see a different culture and a different league. The league is gone this season but I am there for a long time.

"You saw a real determined team today. We had to show togetherness and show fight. Today was small step in the right direction."

On Thomas Tuchel leaving at the end of the season, he said: "It's a little bit strange if I am totally honest. All I can say is he has given everything in every training session."

Arsenal head coach Arteta continued speaking on TNT Sports post-match, saying: "We started really well, we were dominant, didn't concede anything. We scored a really good goal.

"After that is the moment of the game when Ben (White) is in front of (Manuel) Neuer and if it was 2-0 it would have been a very different game... in the Champions League you give something, they will take it. You get punished. That is part of football as well.

"The things we can control is do the simple things better."

Discussing the late penalty shout, he added: "They said they checked it and decided it was not a penalty.

"I have a lot of belief we can go there (to Germany) and beat them. We have to prepare really well."

Pundit Martin Keown said on TNT Sports: "Arsenal are quick learners. There's nothing lost for them. Sané going off was a massive relief for Arsenal.

"It will be interesting to see if Gnabry's available for the second leg. The pace Bayern had in wide positions was really hurting Arsenal, particularly on counterattacks."

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to TNT Sports after the match, said: "We started pretty well, were dominant and didn't concede anything. We scored a really good goal and, straight after that, it was a different match.

"We gave the ball to our opponents and they scored, which created some uncertainty. The second goal was also an unusual one for us to concede.

"This is the Champions League: if you make mistakes, you get punished. We didn't do a lot of the simple things to our normal standards.

"We allowed them to have spaces to run and they are very dangerous. But even at 2-1, we were composed, tried to find our rhythm and didn't try to rush things."

Despite not being awarded a penalty in the closing seconds, Bukayo Saka did score Arsenal's first goal in the 12th minute. He has now been directly involved in eight goals in eight appearances in the Champions League this season (four goals, four assists).

That's the most goal involvements for the club in the UCL since Alexis Sanchez also had eight in the 2015-16 season.

The Athletic has broken down the major talking points from this wild contest, diving into:

• Arteta's super subs
• Kane penalty after Raya went too early
• Bayern lethal on the counter
• Should Saka have had a spot kick?

Follow the link below to check out our analysis!

I'm a big fan of Rio Ferdinand’s punditry but I can’t believe he’s doubling down over that penalty shout.

It’s just not a penalty. Neuer stands his ground and Saka sticks his leg out to make sure there’s contact.

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, speaking on TNT Sports, has insisted he thinks Arsenal should have had a penalty at the end.

He said: "Manuel Neuer leaves his leg out. It has to be a penalty. They (VAR) had to send him (the referee) to look at it. It's such a big decision in a game like this. There is so much riding on it."

Fellow pundit Martin Keown, formerly of Arsenal, added: "I find it quite alarming he has not given that penalty."

Keown is slightly biased, to be fair.

Harry Kane was pleased his "research" paid off with his penalty against Arsenal in the Champions League.

The England captain scored Bayern Munich's second of the night from the spot — a record sixth goal for the former Tottenham man at Emirates Stadium.

Kane stroked the ball home with ease after David Raya moved early and Kane revealed after he was expecting the goalkeeper to tip his hand.

"It was one of them when I have done a bit of research of his games against Porto," he told TNT Sports. "It was nice to see him go early and make it easier for me."