LEANDRO TROSSARD scored a smart equaliser to keep Arsenal’s Champions League dream alive.
The Gunners – in the last-8 of the iconic competition for the first time since 2009-10 – had lead early through Bukayo Saka, who curled in a brilliant strike.
But the home side suffered a mini-collapse with Bayern star Serge Gnabry striking back before Harry Kane then scored at the Emirates, again, with a penalty.
Arsenal looked dead and buried for a period but Leandro Trossard scored from the bench to put the second leg on a knife edge.
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That’s all from the Emirates
Action-packed. High-paced. Dramatic. Controversial. Enthralling. The Champions League is back, and Arsenal are a part of it.
This quarter-final is still in the balance after a 2-2 draw at the Emirates, and these two giants of the game will reconvene next Wednesday for the second leg in Germany.
We’ll be at the Allianz Arena to see how it all pans out, and you can join us for every exciting moment.
Goodnight.
Tuchel livid with ref explanation
While the football world were busy debating the penalty claim incident involving Bukayo Saka at the end of Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich, it appears all of us missed another much more controversial.
Unnoticed by commentators and reporters at the time, midway through the second half, Gabriel picked up the ball to replace a free-kick passed to him by David Raya along the six-yard line.
However, a second earlier, referee Glenn Nyberg had blown his whistle, meaning that Raya’s pass was in-play, prompting Harry Kane and co. to appeal for a spotkick.
Afterwards, a furious Tuchel told the assembled press:
It is a huge mistake. It’s a crazy situation, but they put the ball down, he whistles, he kicks the ball free and the defender picks the ball up in his hands. What makes us really angry is the explanation on the field, he told our players ‘it is a kid’s mistake’, and he will not give a penalty like this in a quarter-final. This is a horrible, horrible explanation.
Thomas Tuchel
Arteta rues early White miss
Mikel Arteta was delighted with the way his Arsenal side started the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, and believes they would have had one foot in the semis had Ben White bagged a first half chance.
The defender was denied at point blank range by Manuel Neuer shortly after Bukayo Saka had opened the scoring, and the the Gunners boss believed it was the incident which swung the game.
The game had different moments. We started really well and were dominant, we didn’t concede anything. We scored a really good goal and then after that is the moment of the game when Ben [White] is in front of [Manuel] Neuer. If it was 2-0 it would have been a very different game. I have a lot of belief we can go there and beat them. We have to prepare really well.
Mikel Arteta
Extra! Read all about it!
Attentions have already turned to next Wednesday’s second leg at the Allianz Arena, but let’s recap on tonight’s events with Charlie Wyett’s match report of Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final.
It was anything but perfect and Arsenal still have a hell of a lot of work to do. But on a night which threatened to go horribly wrong, Mikel Arteta and his team gave themselves a chance of squeezing through to the semi-finals – despite Bukayo Saka being denied a late penalty.
Charlie Wyett
Kane had studied Raya’s game
Harry Kane scored another penalty against Arsenal, and then afterwards admitted that he had been studying David Raya when it comes to facing spotkicks.
The Bayern striker rolled the ball home after the Gunners keeper went to ground early during his stuttered run-up, silencing thousands of booing fans in the process.
It was a tough game. Of course we are never happy when we don’t win. Arsenal are having a good go at trying to win the league and they are top for a reason. I had done some research of [David Raya’s] game against Porto so it was nice to see him go down early and make it easier for me.”
Harry Kane
Saka in good company with Henry
Bukayo Saka’s evening may have ended in frustration with his stoppage time appeal for a penalty turned away, but it started so, so well.
With his wonderful opener, the England international took his Champions League goal involvements to eight for the season (four goals and four assists).
Only Thierry Henry with 10 in 2002-03 and 11 in 2003-04 has ever recorded more for Arsenal in Europe’s stellar competition.
Draw a good base for Bayern
The bad news for Arsenal is that Bayern Munich have progressed from six of the eight previous Champions League ties in which they have drawn the first leg away from home.
The good news for Arsenal is that on the two occasions in which they failed to so – against Milan in the 2006-07 quarter-final, and Liverpool in the 2018-19 last 16 – their triumphant opponents went on to win the competition.
Match stats from the Emirates
Leandro Trossard’s 76th minute equaliser was the game’s first attempt on target since Harry Kane’s converted penalty after 32 minutes.
Full time – Arsenal 2-2 Bayern Munich
The first leg ends in an enthralling draw.
A game that swung from one end to the other, and the scoring followed suit.
Arsenal led early through Bukayo Saka but soon found themselves behind when Serge Gnabry equalised and Harry Kane converted a penalty.
In a second half high on energy but low on chances, substitutes Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard combined for a Gunners equaliser that leaves this tie in the balance ahead of next week’s second leg.
Arsenal 2-2 Bayern Munich
90+5. Bukayo Saka skips around Manuel Neuer and goes down!!
Penalty to Arsenal!? No!!
Saka is insistent. Sixty-thousand Arsenal fans are insistent. The commentators are insistent. But referee Glenn Nyberg waves play-on and nobody watching can believe it.
Replays show that there is definitely contact as the Bayern goalkeeper meets the Arsenal forward, but is it because Saka flicks out his leg into the shin of Neuer?
Controversy right at the end.
Arsenal 2-2 Bayern Munich
90+3. Finally, Bayern decide to drop some players back into a defensive unit.
A draw certainly keeps this one in the balance heading to Munich for the return.
Arsenal 2-2 Bayern Munich
90. Coman hits the post!
As the board goes up to signal five minutes of stoppage time, the Bayern substitute flicks Musiala’s centre through the legs of Raya at the near post and against the base of the woodwork.
Bayern so close to a first leg winner!
Arsenal 2-2 Bayern Munich – Partey yellow card
89. Tactical foul klaxon.
Thomas Partey is carded for bringing down Jamal Musiala after the Bayern forward threatened to break free from his marker.
Arsenal 2-2 Bayern Munich
87. Gone are the days when these ties used to see one side shutting up shop for the last 25 minutes, this will be end-to-end to the final whistle.
Arsenal 2-2 Bayern Munich – Arsenal substitute
84. Saka is penalised for a foul on Musiala, although there wasn’t much the Arsenal player could have done to get out of the way.
Meanwhile, Thomas Partey is on for Kai Havertz.
Arsenal 2-2 Bayern Munich
82. Saka and Davies continue to battle it out for pace down the right flank.
This time, Saka comes out on top, and dinks a delightful delivery across the face of goal after exchanging passes with Odegaard.
Unfortunately for Arsenal, nobody gambles on the cross and the opportunity passes.
It’s time like this you want a traditional nine rather than a false one.
Arsenal 2-2 Bayern Munich
80. Into the last ten!
Bayern haven’t settled for a draw either, and push forward with Coman on the right.
The substitute does well to cut inside, and then ruins it with a weak shot straight at Raya.
Arsenal 2-2 Bayern Munich
78. There’s no sign of this tie settling down – even with the prospect of another 90 minutes next Wednesday.
Arsenal 2-2 Bayern Munich
76. Arsenal are back on level terms!
And it’s hats off to Mikel Arteta and his substitutes!
Leandro Trossard is the one that scores the equaliser, but it’s all down to the incredible footwork of Gabriel Jesus.
The Brazilian receives Bukayo Saka’s pass, tricks his way past one defender, skips inside another, and then cushions a pass into the path of Trossard, who cooly sweeps home.
The Emirates is now bouncing – and Arsenal aren’t finished yet!
Super subs deliver!
Arsenal 1-2 Bayern Munich
74. Are Arsenal preparing themselves for a final burst at Bayern?
The players are up for it. The manager is up for it. And the crowd is certainly up for it.
Arsenal 1-2 Bayern Munich
72. There has not been a single shot on target in the second half which says a lot about how Thomas Tuchel and his team have nullified Arsenal since going ahead.
Arsenal 1-2 Bayern Munich – Bayern Munich substitution
70. Sure enough, Gnabry hobbles away to the dressing room for treatment, and it’s Raphael Guerreiro on in his place.
Arsenal 1-2 Bayern Munich
69. Here’s a potential blow for Bayern.
So soon after deciding to replace Leroy Sane, Thomas Tuchel is now faced with the prospect of losing Serge Gnabry.
The former Arsenal forward has picked up an injury, which is no surprise considering the amount of running he has done on his return to North London.
Arsenal 1-2 Bayern Munich – Arsenal double substitution
67. And two changes for the Gunners!
Mikel Arteta sends for attackers Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard, replacing Gabriel Martinelli and deep-lying midfielder Jorginho.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
