CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 

ARSENAL 2 (Saka 13, Trossard 76) 

BAYERN 2 (Gnabry 18, Kane 31)

ARSENAL’S Champions League hopes hang in the balance after a frustrating draw against an out of form Bayern Munich.

Bukayo Saka put the Gunners ahead before they were pegged back by a counter attack finished off by Serge Gnabry.

Harry Kane then inevitably scored from the spot before Leandro Trossard levelled the tie late on in the second half.

There were legitimate penalty shouts at both ends that were waved-away by the referee and VAR.

After the match, Arteta said: “We have a big task ahead of us against one of the most successful teams in Europe and that’s the hurdle we have to overcome, and we are looking forward to it.”

In the end it was probably a fair result with the visitors having – playing without any fans in the stadium due to a ban – constantly threatening on the break.

But it is a measure of how far Arsenal have come that fans are now expecting victory against the European heavyweights.

Saka broke the offside trap and was found by his old compadre Benjamin White.

He curled it perfectly into the bottom corner in trademark style.

White should have made it two moments later with a huge chance after being put in by Declan Rice with time to pick his spot.

Arsenal were dominating and the stadium was pumping when Gnabry equalised against the run of play.

Without any away fans – Bayern had been banned due to fireworks – and there was an eerie silence when the goal went in, reminiscent of the vibe in the empty stadium during covid lockdowns.

It all added to the strange and distracted atmosphere on the night that was epitomised by Gabriel handling the ball in the box after David Raya passed it to him across the six yard line.

Arguably, Gabriel was setting the ball before starting the goal kick routine.

The ref did call a penalty after William Saliba brought down Leroy Sane with a late challenge.

The Bayern winger had breezed through four Arsenal players with a surging run across the face of goal before being brought down.

And up stepped Harry….

He tucked it away serenely despite deafening noise from all 60,000 fans bellowing for him to miss.

There was an incredible last ditch challenge from White in the first half, who raced back 40 yards to stop what looked to be a certain goal.

Kane booked in second half for what looked like a nasty but ultimately accidental elbow in the neck of Gabriel.

Frustrations were building, and Arsenal were not breaking through the stubborn Bayern defence.

Jesus and Trossard were thrown on in an attacking move by Arteta.

And the two linked up to get the equaliser.

Jesus did well to lay it on to Trossard who stroked it in with deadly accuracy.

He is the coolest of players when it comes to picking his spot.

There was a huge shout for a penalty right at the death.

Saka crashed to the ground after jinking past the defender.

There was obvious contact the ref waved it away, seemingly ruling Arsenal frontman had left his leg trailing.

There was no last minute heroics. But the tie is all to play for and Trossard’s goal may prove crucial.

Arsenal: Raya, Saliba, Gabriel, White, Kiwior (Zinchenko 45), Rice, Jorginho (Jesus 66), Havertz (Partey 85), Odegaard, Martinelli (Trossard 66), Saka 
Subs not used: Ramsdale, Hein, Rowe, Nketiah, Tomiyasu, Vieira, Nelson, Elneny

Bayern: Neuer, de Ligt, Kimmich, Davies, Dier, Laimer, Goretzkaa, Sane (Coman 65), Musiala, Gnabry (Guerreiro 69), Kane
Subs not used: Peretz, Ulreich, Upamecano, Choupo-Moting, Zaragoza, Muller, Tel, Mazraoul, Pavlovic

Attendance 60221