After a commanding 6-1 win against RB Leipzig on the weekend, Bayern Munich faced their first real test in this season’s Champions League as they hosted Arsenal at the Allianz Arena.
This is the third time in four seasons that Bayern have played Arsenal. Last season, the Premier League side won 3-1 in North London, while the previous meeting before that was in the quarter-finals, which the Bundesliga champions won 3-2.
Heading into the game, the Rekordmeister were without two of their key players, with Michael Olise suspended following his red card last week against Viking, while Joshua Kimmich was also absent due to a bereavement in his family.
Bayern were in control for much of the first half, and Serge Gnabry had their best chance in the early stages after Harry Kane started the move as he took the goal kick. However, it was Arsenal who would take the lead against the run of the game when Martin Odegaard played through Eberechi Eze, who was marginally onside, and made it 1-0 for the Premier League side.
But Arsenal’s lead would only last for 10 minutes as Kane was once again the orchestrator as he played a near-perfect pass to Alphonso Davies, and the Canadian slotted past David Raya to make it 1-1.
In the early stages of the second half, both teams had chances that required goal-line saves from both keepers, first Manuel Neuer, then Raya. While Arsenal again had a chance which they were unable to bundle home.
Kane would then get his customary goal when Bayern were awarded a penalty following a handball, which he easily converted. Vincent Kompany’s side then had two great chances from Konrad Laimer and substitute Luis Diaz to extend their lead, but they were unable to convert.
With 10 minutes of normal time remaining, Arsenal would then level it through Declan Rice.
Considering their dominance in the early stages of the game, and the chances they had when 2-1 up, Bayern may be feeling that they could have come away with a win. However, on the flip side, there were moments when Bayern were on the ropes.
The biggest worry for Kompany’s side is the fact that Diaz went off injured late on. There were doubts about his fitness going into the game, but the fact he came on and was unable to complete this one could put his fitness in doubt ahead of Freiburg on Sunday.
Manuel Neuer (6), Josip Stanisic (5), Dayot Upamecano (7), Kim Min-Jae (5), Konrad Laimer (6), Tom Bischof (6), Aleksander Pavlovic (6), Serge Gnabry (5), Ismael Saibari (5), Alphonso Davies (6), Harry Kane (8)
Others: Jonathan Tah (5), Lennart Karl (5), Luis Diaz (-), Baro Sapoko Ndiaye (-)
In this game, Kane spent most of it not in the position he was listed as playing in when the team sheet came out. Tonight, the English showed his full passing range, popping up in midfield, in defence, even in Bayern’s own box when they were building up from the back. Not only providing the assist for Davies’ equaliser but also several other times, laid it on a plate for his teammates, but they were unable to finish their chances.
If Bayern’s attack wasn’t mainly filled with second-string players, then this probably would have been a lot more effective with the likes of Michael Olise and Luis Diaz on the pitch.
It wouldn’t be surprising that as Kane gets older, he begins to slowly move further back.
