Arsenal ended Bayern Munich’s 100% record this season and inflicted a first defeat of the campaign on Vincent Kompany’s men as they beat them 3-1 on Match Day 5. The fixture at the Emirates was one between the top two teams in the league phase, and it is Arsenal who now remain the competition’s solitary unbeaten team after an excellent win in London.

Gunners flip the script

Arsenal’s fixtures against Bayern in the 2010’s had an air of inevitability about them. The Gunners used to be competitive for a while, but it was Bayern who’d run away with the game- they beat them 5:1 on three consecutive occasions between 2015 and 2017.

The Gunners though laid down a marker here- bar a brief first half period, Bayern were second best to Mikel Arteta’s side at the Emirates. Arsenal had 8 total shots to the latter’s 2 and 6 corners to 1.

(Domination over Bayern Munich; Arsenal stats in red below)

Set pieces prove vital for the hosts

Arsenal have been dubbed as “set piece FC” by some pundits for their over-reliance on deadball situations for goals, and they netted their first one here from a set piece, with Bukayo Saka’s beautifully taken corner expertly nodded in by Jurrien Timber.
Bayern were under constant pressure from corners and set-pieces and the likes of Mikel Merino and Cristhian Mosquera both had excellent headed chances in the second half.

But once Arsenal started to flex their muscles in the second half, there was little Bayern could do to stop the Gunners, who netted through Madueke and Martinelli to seal a 3-1 triumph.

Could this be their year?

Arsenal have been very impressive in the UCL this season- they’ve let in just one goal (scored by Bayern’s Lennart Karl). They’ve also built up a lead in the Premier League and demolished arch rivals Spurs 4:1 just prior to the Bayern game.

The pressure at the highest level is immense, and an element of composure often makes the difference to decide the winner- be it at an online casino or in the top footy leagues. Unlike many Arsenal sides of the past, this one under Arteta seems to have a mental edge, and that could see them grab a trophy in 2025.

The Gunners are currently flying the flag for England in the CL, with the likes of Man City, Liverpool, Newcastle and Spurs all under-achieving. Liverpool were humbled 4-1 by PSV on Matchday 5, City lost 2-0 at home to Leverkusen and Newcastle and Spurs both tasted defeat against French opponents. Arsenal are ahead of the likes of PSG, Bayern and Real in the log at this moment, and look set to directly progress to the Round of 16 instead of going through the playoffs.

Rice excellent

The price Arsenal paid for Declan Rice looks like a bargain with every passing season, and the medio was again the Gunners’ standout player on the evening against Bayern. He was Man of the Match and could’ve also had a fine goal from a lung-bursting run from midfield, but for the heroics of Neuer in the Bayern goal.

Arsenal have three fixtures left in the league phase- both Kairat at home and Brugge away seem easy on paper, but Inter at the San Siro will be a tough one. Having beaten Real and Bayern already in this competition, a win over Inter will see a marker laid down by Arteta’s side.

First Bayern defeat

Bayern were unbeaten in all competitions prior to this fixture- they beat Stuttgart in the Super Cup and had gone 11 games in the German league without a loss. This was their first major setback this season, and it’ll be interesting to see how Vincent Kompany responds to it.