For the better part of a decade, the Bavarian crest didn’t just evoke fear in North London; it evoked fatalism. We all remember the aggregate scores. We remember the 5-1 collapses that became a recurring meme for rival fans. The narrative was written before a ball was kicked: Arsenal were the naive artists—pretty to watch but soft in the middle—and Bayern Munich were the ruthless, industrial machine designed to crush dreams.
Even two seasons ago, in the 2023/24 Quarter-Finals, we thought we were ready. We had the belief, we had the noise, but we were ultimately edged out 3-2 over two legs. It was a “death by experience,” a painful lesson that left many of us wondering if this group would ever truly belong at Europe’s top table, or if we were destined to be the eternal “almost” team.
But last night, under the lights of the Emirates, that script wasn’t just rewritten—it was burned to ash.
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Arsenal 3, Bayern Munich 1.
This wasn’t just three points to maintain our 100% record in the Champions League group stage; it was a psychological exorcism. It was the night the “Bogey Team” finally became just another opponent, and the “Little Brother” complex was laid to rest.
Declan Rice: The engine room general (MOTM)
If you want to understand the difference between the Arsenal of 2024 and the Arsenal of today, look no further than Declan Rice.
Awarded Man of the Match, Rice delivered what might be his most complete performance in an Arsenal shirt. In previous years against Bayern, our midfield was bypassed with ease. Last night, Rice didn’t just patrol the midfield; he owned it. He was a one-man swarm, winning duels, breaking lines, and physically bullying a Bayern midfield that is used to having its own way.
The defining image of the night wasn’t a goal; it was the tackle Rice made near the dugout in the 68th minute. With the game poised at 1-1 and tension rising, Rice thundered into a challenge, winning the ball cleanly and sparking the transition that led to Riccardo Calafiori’s assist for Noni Madueke. It was a moment of pure will. While others might have tired, Rice was “galloping” around the pitch until the final whistle, driving the team forward and refusing to let the tempo drop. He played with the authority of a captain and the energy of a debutant.
Tactical metamorphosis: From naivety to nullification
To truly appreciate the magnitude of this victory, we must look back at why we failed in April 2024. In those Quarter-Finals, Bayern hurt us by exploiting our youthful naivety. We pressed with enthusiasm but lacked structure, allowing Leroy Sane and Harry Kane to drop deep, turn, and spray passes that dissected our high line.
Last night, Mikel Arteta unveiled “Phase 4” of his project: Total nullification.
Despite the absence of Gabriel Magalhães, the defensive partnership of William Saliba and summer signing Cristhian Mosquera was imperious. Mosquera, stepping into the biggest game of his Arsenal career to date, didn’t just survive; he erased the Bayern attack.
And then there is the ghost at the feast. Harry Kane returned to North London expecting to be the villain of the piece, but he ended up being an extra. Marshallled by Saliba and Mosquera, Kane was reduced to dropping into his own defensive half just to get a touch on the ball. The boos that rang out when he held possession weren’t out of fear anymore; they were mocking. The “King of North London” has been dethroned.
The inevitability of the set-piece
Before the tactical chess match fully unfolded, the nerves were settled by a familiar friend: the set-piece.
Jurrien Timber’s opening header from a Bukayo Saka corner wasn’t just a goal; it was a statistical inevitability. It was our 10th set-piece goal of the season already. In the 2024 tie, we relied on moments of individual magic. In 2025, we have weaponized the dead ball to such an extent that it changes the psychology of the opponent. You could see the panic in the Bayern box every time the ball went out of play. It forces elite teams to play with fear.
The academy war: resilience over perfection
However, this was not a flawless victory, which perhaps makes it even more impressive. The equaliser scored by Bayern’s teenage sensation Lennart Karl—was a reminder of the quality the Germans possess.
This brings us to Myles Lewis-Skelly. The Hale End graduate was given the almost impossible task of shackling Karl, and yes, for the goal, he was momentarily exposed. But this is where the comparison to the “Old Arsenal” shines brightest. Ten years ago, an Arsenal teenager making a mistake against Bayern Munich would have crumbled.
Lewis-Skelly did the opposite. After the goal, he played with a renewed aggression. He demanded the ball, he snapped into tackles, and he refused to let one moment define his night. That mental resilience is the “Process” in microcosm.
Depth: The new superpower
The narrative going into the game was dominated by who was missing. Yet, the players who stepped up proved that the floor of this squad has been raised significantly.
The sight of Leandro Trossard—our usual “Clutch King”—limping off with a muscle scare sent a hush around the stadium. With the fixture list congestion, the anxiety over his fitness is real. But where previous injuries have derailed our seasons, this one sparked a revolution.
Enter Noni Madueke.
Since his arrival, Madueke has had to fight for every inch of respect. Last night, he didn’t just fill a gap; he seized the narrative. His goal to make it 2-1—his first-ever in the Champions League was taken with the cold arrogance of a player who knows he belongs at this level. But the goal doesn’t happen without Riccardo Calafiori. Coming off the bench to replace Lewis-Skelly, the Italian changed the dynamic instantly, assisting Madueke mere moments after entering the pitch.
The dagger and the return
As Bayern pushed for an equaliser, Eberechi Eze showed his worth. Drifting between the lines, he offered a level of unpredictability that unpicked the German lock.
It was Eze’s perfectly weighted pass that released Gabriel Martinelli. The Brazilian has had a quiet spell recently, but his run and finish into the empty net were pure catharsis. It was a punishment for Manuel Neuer’s high line—a poetic reversal of the days when Bayern keepers would mock our inability to press them. Martinelli’s celebration wasn’t just about the third goal; it was a release of frustration.
To cap off the perfect night, the Emirates roared for the return of captain Martin Odegaard. Seeing him back on the pitch for a cameo was the final psychological boost.
Conclusion: The trauma is buried
Let’s be clear: this result sends a shock wave through the competition. We didn’t just beat Bayern Munich. We beat them with key players missing, with teenagers in the back line, and with substitutes scoring the winners.
The 10-2 aggregate scoreline will always be in the history books, but it no longer hangs over the Emirates like a dark cloud. The demons of the 5-1 era have been exercised.
We have a squad that can absorb injuries, weaponize set-pieces, and rely on a midfield general like Declan Rice to dominate the world’s best.
The exorcism is complete. Arsenal 3, Bayern 1. Welcome to the new reality.
Images courtesy of Reuters/Action Images