Arsenal left Munich with a 2-2 Champions League draw after Harry Kane, rejected by the north London club as a nine-year-old, helped Bayern Munich recover twice at the Allianz Arena. Kane created Alphonso Davies’ equaliser and scored from the penalty spot, but Declan Rice struck late to preserve a point that keeps Arsenal in the top eight on seven points. Bayern, meanwhile, have taken five points from their opening three matches.
What the night decided
The draw prevented Arsenal from taking all three points from a demanding away night, while Bayern were denied the victory that had appeared within reach after Kane’s second-half penalty.
Arsenal began with greater control, aided by Bayern’s inability to dominate possession without Joshua Kimmich. The Germany captain was absent following the sudden death of his father. Bayern were also without Michael Olise after his sending-off in Stavanger, but Kimmich’s absence was particularly felt in midfield.
There was an early setback for the visitors when Bukayo Saka had to come off after only 10 minutes. Eberechi Eze replaced him and quickly made the change count. Martin Odegaard supplied a fine delivery and Eze met it with his left foot to put Arsenal ahead. The goal was initially ruled out for offside before a VAR review confirmed it.
Bayern’s response came from Kane. Dropping into midfield, the England striker threaded a pass through Arsenal’s defence for Davies, who ran clear and beat David Raya with a right-footed finish.
The equaliser lifted the home side before half-time, and Bayern resumed with further chances for Dayot Upamecano and Ismael Saibari. Their pressure eventually brought a second goal.
Kane’s effort struck Jurrien Timber’s hand in the area, prompting the referee to award a penalty. Kane converted emphatically, placing his spot-kick into the top corner beyond Raya.
It looked as though the Bayern forward had delivered the decisive intervention against his former academy club. Instead, Rice ensured Arsenal had the final word. The midfielder produced a powerful late strike to make it 2-2, earning a result that reflected Arsenal’s resistance in Munich.
Kane changes the rhythm for Bayern
Kane was central to Bayern’s revival after Arsenal’s opening goal. His pass for Davies showed the creative range that has become increasingly important to Bayern’s attacking play, while his penalty restored the hosts’ lead in the second half.
For Arsenal, Eze’s goal after replacing the injured Saka and Rice’s late intervention ensured that a night which threatened to turn against them finished with a valuable point. Bayern remain short of the pace in the early Champions League standings, while Arsenal’s seven-point total leaves them among the top-eight positions.
