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Arsenal's trip to the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night represented an opportunity to test themselves against one of Europe's heavyweights in the Champions League.
Sure, Bayern's starting XI was missing the likes of Joshua Kimmich, Michael Olise and Luis Diaz, but it mattered not. It's a tough place to go; the Gunners now haven't won on their last five visits to Munich.
That being said, they were good value for a 2-2 draw. This was arguably one of their finest performances at the Allianz.
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In truth, Arsenal were not at their best, but neither were Bayern. It led to a captivating contest.
How Arsenal rallied to draw with Bayern
When Bukayo Saka hobbled off the field after just ten minutes with a quad injury, everybody feared the worst.
With Christos Tzolis on the treatment table, the Gunners were already without one winger and they are now set to be without their talisman. Having sold Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard over the summer, Mikel Arteta will be ruing their work behind the scenes to strengthen the squad.
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Arsenal now look light in the final third but their attacking performance on Wednesday was encouraging, particularly as Eberechi Eze found the net.
A matter of days ago, Eze had been subbed at half-time of their 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest. Supporters deemed him finished at the Emirates. However, this was one of his finest nights in an Arsenal shirt; he was terrific on the left flank after replacing the injury-stricken Saka.
It was the former Crystal Palace man who rifled the visitors in front with a lovely finish after 25 minutes. The assist from Martin Odegaard to create the opportunity was outstanding.
However, a defence-splitting pass from Harry Kane into the path of Alphonso Davies soon drew the hosts level. Kane then put Bayern in front from the penalty spot in the second half and it looked as though a result was slipping away from Arteta's men.
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Again, it was the Spaniard's subs that changed the game. Against Leeds, Bruno Guimaraes scored from the bench and against Forest it was Madueke doing the business after being brought on. This time it was Viktor Gyokeres.
The Swede did not score, but he provided a crucial assist for Declan Rice's equaliser.
Harry Kane dominates the Gunners again
It was always going to happen, wasn't it? Kane tormented the Gunners when he was a Tottenham player and he's doing it again now in Bayern colours. He's now up to 16 goals in 23 games against the north Londoners.
Versus Arsenal on Wednesday, he took home the Player of the Match award for a quite magnificent showing. There is a reason he is the favourite to win the Ballon d'Or next Monday and this was yet another performance that showcased why.
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His assist was vintage Kane. The striker is often heralded for his ability to finish off chances but he's also one of the best passers of the ball in world football. He took a leaf out of Odegaard's book to sweep a lovely ball into the path of flying winger Davies who couldn't miss when one-on-one with David Raya.
A game against Arteta's men would not have been complete with Kane scoring himself, though.
When Jurrien Timber was adjudged to have handled inside the area, the referee pointed to the spot. Bayern's main man was never going to miss and he duly sent Raya the wrong way.
It was advantage to the Bundesliga champions before Arsenal's answer to Kane came up trumps.
How Arsenal's answer to Kane rescued Arteta
The night prior, we had seen PSG defeat Barcelona 4-2. We didn't quite get the same level of thriller in Germany on Wednesday but it was an enthralling tie all the same.
As Arteta said post-match, "Wow, what a game". Quite. This was two of Europe's best sides going toe to toe; it was Raya vs Neuer, Gabriel vs Kim Min-jae, Guimaraes vs Aleksandar Pavlovic and Kane vs Rice.
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Kane, Bayern's talisman, stepped up when it mattered most for Bayern, as he so often does. However, as so often Rice does, he stepped up for Arsenal.
With Saka struggling for form and Gabriel Magalhaes not quite as influential as he was last term, the £105m signing has very much become the leading man for Arsenal.
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He may not play up top as Kane does, but he is certainly the man for the big moment, just like his England colleague.
Rice has proven time and time again that he's a player to rely on. Remember those two free-kicks against Real Madrid? Of course you do; they are moments no fan will ever forget.
Well, on another huge night in Europe, the midfielder delivered again and scored a vital goal.
After some neat combination play on the right between Noni Madueke and Gyokeres, the ball fell to Rice around six yards out. He took a touch and then slammed the ball past Neuer. It was a brilliant move and a cracking finish.
Truth be told, the club's number 41 struggled alongside Guimaraes for large spells of the game, but once Myles Lewis-Skelly was introduced shortly after the hour mark, things changed.
Rice looked more settled; he had more freedom to surge forward. Arteta mentioned a number of weeks ago that the midfielder was "no longer a lighthouse". Indeed, his role is slightly different now, and we saw that in Munich this week.
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It was another mightily destructive performance from the 27-year-old who in the process of taking 99 touches on Wednesday, well and truly cemented himself as one of the best players in his position in the world.
Pundits and onlookers often bemoan the lack of world-class players in this Arsenal team but like Kane, it's safe to put Rice in that conversation of being a truly elite player. What a signing he has been since arriving from West Ham. He's made his price tag look like a bargain.
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