A sensational second-half showing earned us all three points in this top of the table clash in the Champions League.
We took the lead in the first half when Jurrien Timber headed in Bukayo Saka’s corner, but Bayern struck back with a great goal of their own through teenage Lennart Karl.
The second-half was all us though. Noni Madueke registered his first Gunners goal before fellow sub Gabriel Martinelli rounded Manuel Neuer midway inside the opposition half to roll into the empty net.
It was a stunning show of strength against the previously unbeaten German champions, who also came into the game with a 100 per cent record in Europe.
**Towering Timber**
--------------------
This was a meeting of the top two in the 36-team Champions League table – it doesn’t get any bigger at this stage of the competition – and the two heavyweights gave each other plenty of respect in the opening ten minutes.
Bayern dominated possession, but we had the best early chance. William Saliba headed over from Declan Rice’s inswinging free-kick on five minutes.
In fact 20 minutes passed before the visitors had an attempt at goal, and it was a weak header Dayot Upamecano wide from a looping corner.
Two minutes later, Timber showed him how it should be done. Bukayo Saka’s corner was delivered with pace to the near post, where Timber ghosted free and leapt highest to glance his header beyond the flailing Manuel Neuer.
It was our 10th goal from a corner so far this season.
**Bayern blast back**
---------------------
Ebere Eze – the hat-trick hero in Sunday’s derby win – had our next attempt. He cushioned a spinning ball wonderfully, nutmegged his man to play a one-two with Mikel Merino, but then dragged his shot wide.
We had restricted Bayern to very little in the opening half hour, despite them dominating possession. But then two quick passes resulted in their equaliser. Joshua Kimmich sprayed a long diagonal out to the right wing, where the galloping Michael Olise volleyed his cross into the path of Lennart Karl, and the 17 year old finished first time past David Raya. It was a devastating move from the German champions, who came into this game having won 17 of their 18 games in all competitions, drawing the other.
It was also the first goal we have conceded at Emirates Stadium in any Champions League group stage or league phase game since Mikel Arteta became manager.
**Game opens up**
-----------------
The first half was high on quality, but low on chances. Early in the second half Saka forced Neuer into a stretching save when a poor clearance fell on his right foot inside the area.
Saka’s corner caused confusion in the box, the ball was popping around until it fell to Mikel Merino, but his right footed effort screwed wide.
We were starting to rack up the chances though. Merino had a free header comfortably saved before Karl shot too close to Raya at the other end.
We were putting Bayern under increasing pressure, especially at set pieces. Merino glanced another header wide before Cristhian Mosquera was denied at close range from Neuer, after Rice’s free-kick was allowed to bounce in the penalty area.
A storming run from Rice down the right took him straight into the box, but his shot was well saved by the outstretched foot of the goalkeeper.
**Subs make their impact**
--------------------------
We were on top, and Mikel Arteta looked to press home the advantage with a couple of subs, bringing on Martinelli and Riccardo Calafiori. The latter immediately set up first half sub Madueke for our second. Rice – again – won the ball in midfield, fed Eze who rolled it to the Italian left back on the overlap. He whipped in a cross and Madueke arrived in the middle to score his first Gunners goal.
Then it was Martinelli’s turn. A Bayern attack broke down and Eze played an early pass over the top. Martinelli raced onto it from his own half, tapped it round Neuer who was miles out of his goal, then rolled it into the empty net.
It made it four goals from four appearances in the Champions League this season.
The win takes us three points clear at the top, with three matches remaining in this phase – and we are now the only unbeaten team in the competition.
**What’s next**
----------------
Champions League football is now on the back-burner for a couple of weeks, as we play three Premier League fixtures before heading to play Club Brugge on Matchday Six. Next up it’s Chelsea away on Sunday, followed by Brentford at home next Wednesday, and a trip to Aston Villa the following weekend.
Copyright 2025 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.