Declan Rice struck an 82nd-minute equalizer as Arsenal fought back to earn a 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich in a Champions League clash at the Allianz Arena. The result extended the Gunners’ unbeaten run in European group and league phase matches to 14 games, despite losing winger Bukayo Saka to an early leg injury.
Eze and Davies Trade Goals Before Kane Penalty
Arsenal started brightly in Munich and opened the scoring through substitute Eberechi Eze, who had replaced the injured Saka in the tenth minute. Eze converted a pass from Martin Odegaard in the 25th minute, with the goal awarded following a video assistant referee review that overturned an initial offside ruling.
Bayern Munich responded ten minutes later when Harry Kane released Alphonso Davies with a through-ball to level the scores. Kane then put the home side ahead from the penalty spot in the 61st minute after Jurrien Timber was penalized for handball. The goal was Kane’s 16th in 22 career appearances against Arsenal, making him only the second player after Cristiano Ronaldo to score in 10 consecutive Champions League games.
Bayern competed without the suspended Michael Olise and Joshua Kimmich, who missed the game due to a bereavement in his family. Both sides created numerous opportunities throughout the match. Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya made crucial saves to deny Serge Gnabry and a close-range header from Davies, while Bayern manager Manuel Neuer produced impressive stops to prevent a Bruno Guimaraes header and a late shot from Timber from crossing the line.
Rice Equalizer Completes Arsenal Comeback
Arsenal restored parity eight minutes from time when a passing move involving Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres set up Rice, who fired a finish beyond Neuer from a tight angle. Sky Sports reported that Arsenal completed the match with more possession and total shots than their hosts on German soil.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised his team’s display, describing the performance as special against a Bayern team that typically dominates home European fixtures. Arteta also expressed concern regarding Saka’s thigh injury, which occurred as the winger attempted to make a pass.
“A player that has to come off with a really sharp pain is never good news, but we have to wait and see,” Arteta said. He added during his post-match press conference that the injury “doesn’t look good at all but we have to wait and see.”
The injury leaves Arsenal short on wide attacking options, with Christos Tzolis already sidelined and 16-year-old Max Dowman as the only remaining winger on the bench in Munich. Arsenal now enter a busy schedule of five matches prior to the November international break, beginning with a Premier League fixture against Everton on Saturday and a visit to Liverpool on November 1.
Reflecting on the match, Kane told TNT Sports that a draw was a fair result despite Bayern taking the lead in the second half. “We looked like the team that was going to go on and win it,” Kane said, adding: “I always seem to get penalties against Arsenal!”
Source: SkySports | News
