Arsenal FC v FC Bayern München - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5
Lennart Karl cancelled out Jurrien Timber’s opener for Arsenal (Picture: Getty)
Paul Merson pointed the finger of blame at Myles Lewis-Skelly after Lennart Karl’s stunning equaliser for Bayern Munich, accusing the Arsenal youngster of ‘falling asleep’ in the immediate build-up.
Bayern enjoyed the lion’s share of possession in the opening exchanges but it was the Gunners that landed the first blow, with Jurrien Timber rising the highest to head Bukayo Saka’s 22nd-minute corner beyond Manuel Neuer.
However, the visitors – who Arsenal have failed to beat in over a decade – picked themselves up and responded just ten minutes later through 17-year-old attacker Karl, who finished off an slick team move to make it all square.
The highly rated teenager became the youngest player in the history of the Champions League to score in his first two appearances in the competitions with the goal.
Remarkably, Harry Kane was the only Bayern player not to touch the ball in before Serge Gnabry found Karl for the exquisite equaliser, which leaves the group-stage tie finely poised heading into the second period.
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‘Lewis-Skelly falls asleep. It’s a diagonal ball over to Michael Olise but he falls asleep Lewis-Skelly, it goes over his head,’ ex-Arsenal and England midfielder Merson said on Sky Sports.
‘But what a goal, honestly!
Lewis-Skelly ‘fell asleep’ for Karl’s leveller, said Merson (Picture: Sky Sports)
‘It goes over the top of Lewis-Skelly, Olise’s made a great run and he just plays a volley across the goal and there’s Karl who comes running in and smashes it in the net.
‘It’s a phenomenal goal, a brilliant goal. Karl scores out of nothing. That’s what they’ve scored in their last 775 games!’
More to follow.
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