**Arsenal**earned a 3-1 victory against Bayern Munich at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners remain on maximum points in the Champions League after turning the screw in the second half, netting two goals through substitutes to defeat the runaway leaders in the Bundesliga.
Here are four things we learned from this meeting of two of the top teams in Europe.
Another symbolic success
**Arsenal**have been looking for the fine margins to move the needle in their favour this campaign. A string of results during the last two months have indicated one possible area of improvement, and after Wednesday’s result, the Gunners grabbed the most symbolic success of all at this stage of the season.
Arteta’s men earned a last gasp 2-1 triumph against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park before beating West Ham 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium, **Fulham**1-0 at Craven Cottage and Crystal Palace 1-0 in North London. The team dropped points in these four fixtures last campaign: in the case of the trips to **Fulham**and Newcastle, these matchups have been particularly painful for the club.
The psychological benefit of breaking these barriers cannot be underestimated, so a reunion with Die Roten was always going to be about more than just who would take away the points at the Emirates.
Bayern brought high individual quality and they exploited an error in positioning from Myles Lewis-Skelly to equalise quickly after going behind, not unlike in the 2-2 draw between the teams in 2024.
But this would not be another missed opportunity for Arsenal, who earned a first win in six attempts against the German giants. Belief is building in the camp and has seldom been higher in the fanbase.
Substitutes steal the show again
A stronger squad has also been one of the talking points around the team, and so it proved again.
As the international break came to an end, fans feared whether or not the defence would stand firm without the presence of their leader Gabriel Magalhaes, injured with Brazil. But Piero Hincapie held it down in the North London derby, and **Christian Mosquera**deputised well in midweek.
Lewis-Skelly did not have his strongest showing for the Gunners from left back, a role which has evolved to platform the strengths of Riccardo Calafiori as a threat in the final third. But his presence allowed Arteta to rest the Italian, who had been struggling with a hip issue on international duty. And once Calafiori came onto the field, he slotted in seamlessly, profiting from his earlier protection.
The fullback fired a dangerous delivery into the box, and the recipient was Noni Madueke. A much-maligned signing, he impressed as a right winger against **Liverpool**and Nottingham Forest, and his first goal for the club is additional confidence that the player can be a backup for Bukayo Saka.
The three points were assured once Gabriel Martinelli put the ball into an empty net. The Brazilian was grateful for the misjudgement of Manuel Neuer, but he continues to excel as a forward that can enter a broken field and attack in central areas through electric speed, movement and slick finishing.
Players are being made to earn their keep, and the side is going from strength to strength this season.
But one man possesses immense powers of recovery in more ways than one. Ever available, **Declan Rice**remains a centrepiece for the Gunners, and he had a significant role in this victory once more.
With **Eberechi Eze**as opposed to Martin Odegaard as the number ten in the system, the team loses a little defensive discipline in its spine. However, with Martin Zubimendi by his side, Rice has been empowered to be an ‘all-action’ figure in the middle of the park with impact on both sides of the ball.
Rice’s set-piece deliveries remain a massive asset for the Gunners. He found the head of Mikel Merino, who should have hit the target from a second half corner, and another devilish delivery worked its way to Mosquera, who also failed to find the back of the net. He would not be denied.
The 26-year-old telegraphed a line breaking pass from Dayot Upamecano, and the following transition allowed Eze and Calafiori to connect with Madueke. Rice remained robust, and he kept up the habit of becoming a more transcendent force, thanks to his endless energy, as games go on.
Rice scooped the ‘Player of the Match’ Award for his efforts, and his brilliance cannot be dismissed. He is delivering impact on the biggest stage, and putting himself in conversations with the best in the business.
Another regular starter in the side that continues to astonish settled the right back debate a while ago.
Since Ben White underwent knee surgery in November last year, he has been second fiddle in the position. Jurrien Timber seized his opportunity with both hands and continues to set the standard.
The Dutchman got himself on the scoresheet with another contribution from a set-piece. Adding to his brace against Leeds United in August, he netted once more from a corner, and he has shown an ability to leverage his frame well in these moments as one of the secondary threats in such situations.
But it is all the things that have been commonplace across 90 minutes that endear Timber to the fans.
He is comfortable on the front foot in the high press, knowing how to use his stocky frame to lean in and dispossess opposition players. His defensive awareness has also marked him out as more of a lockdown defender than White: an ideal profile for occasions of big European nights against the elite.
On the ball, his performance was professional and unflustered. **Arsenal**have found ways to better integrate his preference to move infield: his turns and feints are a consistent progressive tool to disarm the opposition press, and he is having more impact in the final third. One of many players who is loving life in **North London**at the moment, Timber is a treasured tool and among the best in his role.