A fixture that used to cause a shiver down the spine. A fixture that used to induce a fear stricken shudder.
This was a fixture, that often resulted in not only disappointment, but embarrassment too. It’s safe to say that Arsenal v Bayern Munich, at the Allianz Arena… has been an unhappy hunting ground.
It’s time to change that record, as A LOT has changed since then.
We’re now the Premier League champions, and we were a penalty kick away, from being the champions of Europe.
We haven’t lost a Champions League game over 90 minutes, in 18 months!! We’re an excellent team now, a consistent team… a resilient team… and resolute team.
A team capable of greatness, a team on the precipice greatness… and I expect to see this reflected, in our performance against this old enemy.
Bayern Munich come into this game on the back of a 6-1 home win, over RB Leipzig… and The Arsenal are on the back of a 1-0 away win, over Nottingham Forest… so both teams will be fairly confident, going into this game.
A LOT has made about the players Bayern have missing, but when WE played Bayern at the Emirates last season, we had a plethora of injuries… and NOBODY said a word about it!!
The mainstream media KNOW we’re one of the best teams in Europe, and the champions of England, but it’s like they don’t want to acknowledge it. Hence them trying to diminish a possible good result for The Arsenal… before a ball is even kicked, by harping on , and on, and on… about key players being injured for Bayern Munich.
They’re being covert to the uninitiated, with their anti-Arsenal agenda, but they’re hopelessly transparent to ME… and their flagrant insidious idiocy, must be stopped!
Aaaaaanywhooo… The starting line-up was Raya in goal, Calafiori at left-back, Gabriel and Konsa, central… and Timber at right-back.
Bruno Guimaraes, and Declan Rice, in central midfield… and just in front of them, was Madueke on the left… Odegaard was in the No.10 role, and Bukayo Saka on the right.
Kai Havertz started up front.
We started the game well, and were unphased by the hostile atmosphere at the Allianz Arena.
The Arsenal were on the front foot, and took the game to Bayern in the early stages. They struggled to cope with our slick passing, and inventive movement.
Unfortunately though, in the 10th minute, Bukayo Saka was forced off… after sustaining what looked like either a quadricep injury, or a hamstring injury.
It wasn’t from a tackle either, which makes it even more worrying.
He made a pass, and then fell to the floor grimacing. Hopefully, it’s nothing serious.
Madueke moved over to the right side, and Eze replaced Saka, and went over to the left.
We didn’t allow the disruption to our starting eleven, to disturb the fluidity in our play. We still had more possession, and looked the most dangerous… but we couldn’t break the deadlock.
We got caught on the counter-attack in the 20th minute, and David Raya had to make a great save, from a Gnabry shot.
The Gunners responded with return fire in the 26th minute, when Odegaard played a sumptuous ball over the top to Eze… and Eze had to wait for it to drop, let it bounce a couple of times… and then he set himself, showed great composure… and struck it on the half-volley, with his left foot.
It was a great finish, from a difficult angle. 1-0 to The Arsenal!! The goal had to suffer the scrutiny of a VAR check, due to a suspected off-side, but it was cleared, and the goal was given.
I was happy for Eze, as his form of late hasn’t been to the usual high standards that he set… and most recently, he was taken off at half-time, against Nottingham Forest.
He has dealt with this in the perfect way, and has let his football do the talking.
Bayern reacted to going a goal down in the 35th minute, after a good pass from Kane put Davies clean through. He slid the ball past Raya, to make it 1-1.
Sickening that Kane got such a superb assist, and I threw up in my mouth a little bit.
The first half ended 1-1, and I feel that their goal came against the run of play… BUT, that’s football.
Bayern started the second half better than we did. They were first to the 50-50 balls, and they were looking sharper than us.
In the 49th minute, David Raya made a point-blank save , from a Upamecano header. I have no idea how Raya made the save… but making world class saves regularly, has now become as natural, as an inhale, and exhale, for David Raya… and because of that, he doesn’t get the accolades he deserves.
What a goalkeeper!!
The game once again started to even out, and it became hard to tell which team would get the next goal.
In the 61st minute, Bayern took the lead… after a dubious penalty was awarded.
Timber was sliding on the floor to block a shot, and the momentum caused him to throw his arms up, and the pernickety plonker of a ref, gave a penalty.
Harry Kane must have it written into his contracts, that he MUST have a penalty, EVERY SINGLE TIME, he plays against The Arsenal.
Unsurprisingly, Kane buried the penalty… and it was 2-1 to Bayern Munich. Once again, I threw up in my mouth.
The ex-Tottenham talisman, broke Arsenal hearts… and NOT, for the first time.
We pushed for an equaliser, and even had a headed effort from Bruno Guimaraes… saved on the line, by the veteran keeper… Manuel Neuer.
I had accepted defeat… as an Arsenal loss began to feel inevitable.
THANKFULLY, in the 82nd minute… Rice picked the ball up in midfield, laid it off, and kept running… Gyokeres found a perfectly weighted, perfectly timed pass, around the corner… and Rice finished the move with a great finish… that gave their keeper no chance. EQUALIIIISAAAH! The scoreline now 2-2, and it was well deserved. A wonderfully worked goal, from The Arsenal.
Oh, and THAT’S another two goals from OPEN PLAY!! (Hahahah!)
I’m delighted that such a great assist goes to Gyokeres, as some of the criticism he receives is unwarranted. Hopefully this can be a confidence building moment for the striker, and kickstart his season.
It finished 2-2, and I suppose a draw was juuuusssst about, a fair result.
The Arsenal made a good account for themselves, and long gone are the days, when we were a joke on the European stage… and that warms my heart.
We can now look forward to our next fixture, which is a home game against Everton in the Premier League.
The Arsenal need to make it sticky for The Toffees.
Should Zubimendi get some more game time in the coming weeks?
Does David Raya have the potential to be better than David Seaman?
If Saka’s injury is long term, should Arteta make Max Dowman a regular starter?
Let me know in the comments, as usual… and thanks for reading. COYG!!
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