It was a strange yet entertaining night in Munich, as Bayern and Arsenal shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw. Who has more reason to be satisfied is difficult to say, but perhaps the fairest conclusion is that neither side will be too disappointed at failing to win.The competition is still in its early stages, peak form remains some way off, and something was missing from the very start. The usual intensity associated with a clash between two teams of this calibre never quite materialised, leaving a lingering sense of ‘what if’ despite four goals and an intriguing finish.
The Bavarians had plenty of reasons to approach the game with caution. On matchday, they were dealt a devastating blow by the sudden death of Joshua Kimmich’s father, leaving the German international, one of the club’s captains and most important players, unavailable.Vincent Kompany had also spent the final days of his preparations knowing that he would be without the suspended Michael Olise, sent off in Stavanger, and the injured Jamal Musiala.
There had even been suggestions that Manuel Neuer might miss out, but the veteran goalkeeper recovered in time to return to the starting XI. Bayern nevertheless began without four first-choice players, with Kompany opting to experiment by deploying the young Belgian’s compatriot Alphonso Davies on the left wing. Luis Diaz consequently had to settle for a place on the bench.Manchester drowned in the Como lakeMikel Arteta was hardly spoiled for choice himself. Arsenal travelled to Munich without Christos Tzolis, Piero Hincapie and William Saliba, before their problems worsened just ten minutes into the match when Bukayo Saka suffered an injury and was forced off.
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Yet the setback failed to derail the visitors. Arsenal took the lead through Eberechi Eze, who had come on as a substitute, and then showed their resilience when Bayern appeared poised to deliver the decisive blow after turning the game around. Alphonso Davies netted with some style before Harry Kane pushed his side in front from the spot.The closing stages, however, belonged to the Gunners once again.
Declan Rice’s goal secured Arsenal a share of the points, but the visitors offered more than just a late response. They looked to have the greater energy and desire to push for all three points, leaving the impression that a draw might ultimately have felt more frustrating for them than for the hosts.