Arsenal left Munich with a point that kept their Champions League league-phase run unbeaten, but the 2-2 draw against Bayern came with fresh injury anxiety after Bukayo Saka and Luis Díaz were forced off. Declan Rice’s 82nd-minute finish stopped Harry Kane’s Bayern from turning a comeback into a statement win at the Allianz Arena.
It was a third-round meeting between two clubs targeting the leading places in the new league phase. Arsenal had arrived after victories over Napoli and Lille, while Bayern had beaten Bodø/Glimt 5-0 before drawing 3-3 with Viking.
Quick facts
- Result: Bayern Munich 2-2 Arsenal.
- Goals: Eberechi Eze, 26; Alphonso Davies, 36; Harry Kane, 61 penalty; Declan Rice, 82.
- Kane made Davies’ equaliser and converted Bayern’s penalty.
- Saka departed injured after eight minutes; Díaz suffered another injury late on.
- Arsenal had 56% possession, while Bayern led shots 12-10 and efforts on target 5-4.
Arsenal began with more of the ball and suffered an early setback when Saka pulled up with a muscle problem. Eze came on in his place and soon played a decisive part, seeing an initial offside call overturned by VAR before his 26th-minute finish was awarded.
Bayern gradually found a route back through Kane. The England captain repeatedly dropped away from the forward line to create space, and his long pass released Davies, who finished beyond David Raya to bring the hosts level after 36 minutes.
Raya had already kept out Serge Gnabry, while Gabriel stopped Davies at the other end. Arsenal’s Konsa was booked for a late challenge on Kane, with a possible red card checked and rejected.
The second half opened at speed. Manuel Neuer made an outstanding close-range save from Bruno Guimarães, with the rebound striking the post, before Raya denied Dayot Upamecano’s header. Saibari then hit the side netting after Gnabry’s delivery, although the move was flagged offside.
Bayern’s pressure told when Kane’s shot struck Timber’s raised arm inside the area. Kane took the penalty himself and sent Raya the wrong way, placing the ball high to make it 2-1.
Arsenal struggled to break down a deeper Bayern shape after the goal, despite Mikel Arteta introducing Myles Lewis-Skelly and Viktor Gyökeres. The substitute striker changed the rhythm of the contest, holding the ball up before releasing Rice into space for the equaliser eight minutes from time.
Neuer prevented Arsenal from taking all three points in added time, pushing Timber’s long-range attempt over the bar. Earlier, Eze had created a dangerous opening only for Neuer to get a touch across goal before Bayern cleared.
The draw was further complicated by injuries. Saka’s early exit added to Arsenal’s concerns, while Díaz, introduced in the 68th minute, had to leave shortly before the end after breaking down again. Sapoko Ndiaye replaced him in the 90th minute.
Bayern also made a half-time defensive alteration, with Jonathan Tah replacing Kim Min-jae. Later changes saw Brown come on for Davies and Karl replace Gnabry, while Arsenal sent on Mikel Merino for Martin Ødegaard.
Rice was Arsenal’s leading performer, while Kane drove Bayern’s response with a goal and an assist. The visitors were booked twice, through Kai Havertz and Konsa; Bayern received no cards.
The contest took place with both sides missing significant figures. Bayern were without Joshua Kimmich following a family bereavement, suspended Michael Olise and injured Jamal Musiala. Arsenal travelled without William Saliba, Christos Tzolis and Piero Hincapié.
Vincent Kompany was absent through illness, leaving assistant Aaron Danks to oversee Bayern. Before kick-off, Danks said the hosts had to trust their principles and impose their own game, while acknowledging Arsenal’s defensive strength and Bayern’s loss of Olise.
Arteta had described Bayern away as exactly the level of opponent and setting his squad wanted. His side had won only once in seven previous visits to the Allianz Arena, the 2-0 success in March 2013 when Arteta captained Arsenal, but Rice’s late intervention ensured this latest European night did not become another Munich defeat.
Davide Massa refereed the match, assisted by Filippo Meli and Alessio Berti, with Carlos del Cerro Grande leading the VAR operation. Bayern’s long unbeaten Champions League league/group-stage home sequence, which stood at 39 matches before kick-off, remained intact, but Arsenal left with proof that they could recover when the tie had swung against them.
