By Olukayode Olumuyiwa.
Arsenal delivered a massive statement of intent on the European stage, defeating Bayern Munich 3-1 in a stunning victory that extended their winning run in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) to nine matches. The win marks the first time Bayern Munich had tasted defeat in any competition this season, ending their impressive unbeaten run. The match started positively for a Bayern side described as being in “blistering form,” but Arsenal played to their strengths and took the lead on 22 minutes. Jurriën Timber was the scorer, nodding in a corner floated in by Bukayo Saka over a flailing Manuel Neuer and into the net. The German side, however, was unfazed and responded perfectly just 10 minutes later. Joshua Kimmich’s arrowed pass found Serge Gnabry, who volleyed it calmly across goal to Lennart Karl, who fired past David Raya to register his second goal in as many UCL appearances, bringing the score level at the break.
While the entertaining first half closed with chances for both sides, the flow of the match began to turn decisively in the hosts’ favor after the restart as the opportunities mounted for Arsenal. Mikel Merino glanced a shot a whisker wide, and Cristhian Mosquera’s header was somehow kept out by Neuer from point-blank range. Later, Saka was just a backstep away from converting a rebound after Neuer managed to toe away Declan Rice’s powerful effort. All those chances were merely a prelude to the action that came next, as the crucial third goal arrived shortly after a substitution. Just moments after coming onto the field, Riccardo Calafiori sailed down the left flank, took off Eberechi Eze on the overlap, and whipped a perfect cross onto the foot of fellow substitute Noni Madueke, who fired into the net to score his first goal for the club. The visitors predictably thundered forward in search of an equaliser to protect their record, but they were opened up on the counter by the rapid Gabriel Martinelli, who confidently rounded the outrushing Neuer, who had vacated his goal, and passed the ball into the empty net to seal the victory.
The final 3-1 score quashed any hopes of Bayern preserving their unbeaten record, ensuring Mikel Arteta’s side saw out a famous and season-defining victory. Arsenal’s fantastic 16-match unbeaten run in all competitions continues, and the result is described as a “massive statement of intent that they can lift European football’s most coveted prize for the first time,” with Vincent Kompany’s Bayern side finally caving to “easily the best side they have so far faced.” The Gunners will now take this momentum straight back into the Premier League for a crucial London derby against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Their rivals, also riding high on European confidence, delivered a stunning 3-0 thrashing of Barcelona in their own Champions League fixture on Tuesday, setting the stage for an intriguing clash between two in-form sides.
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