Harry Kane and Bayern Munich bring share of the spoils home from ...
Kane (l.) and Gnabry (r.) were both on target for Bayern at Arsenal. - © Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Kane (l.) and Gnabry (r.) were both on target for Bayern at Arsenal. - © Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Harry Kane and Serge Gnabry were on target as Bayern Munich held Arsenal to a 2-2 draw at their Emirates Stadium in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final meeting.
Arsenal 2-2 Bayern MunichGoals: 1-0 Saka 12' (assist: White), 1-1 Gnabry 18' (assist: Goretzka), 1-2 Kane 32' (pen.), 2-2 Trossard 76'
Bayern dominated early possession, with Leroy Sané seeing a cross headed clear by Gabriel, but Arsenal had the first real chance when Martin Ødegaard slipped Gabriel Martinelli in for a shot he blazed wide. And the Gunners took the lead soon after when Bukayo Saka turned in the box and hit a trademark left-footed curler into the far corner beyond Manuel Neuer. The Bayern and Germany captain then did well to stop Ben White doubling the hosts' lead, and the Bundesliga champions replied when Gnabry latched onto Leon Goretzka's through-ball to steer home against his former employers. Kane then got his name on the scoresheet, sending David Raya the wrong way from the penalty spot after William Saliba had fouled Sané in the box. Sané should have made it three towards the end of the half but White recovered the danger at the last and it was 2-1 at the break.
Arsenal made a change at the break, with Oleksandr ZInchenko replacing Jakub Kiwior at left-back, and they had the first chance of the second half, too, with Declan Rice lofting a free-kick onto the roof of Neuer's net. Goretzka and Konrad Laimer then fired wide and high respectively at the other end. Thomas Tuchel sent Kingsley Coman into the fray for the final half hour, the Frenchman replacing Sané, and a newly injured Gnabry soon followed him for an early shower with Raphaël Guerreiro taking his place. Arsenal restored parity through a pair of their own subs, though, with Gabriel Jesus' quick feet preceding a fine Leandro Trossard finish. Coman hit the post late on and it ended honours even.
Match stats Kane is the top scorer in this season's competition with seven, one more than Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Antoine Griezmann have. The England captain, previously of Tottenham Hotspur, now has 15 career goals against his former North London rivals. Gnabry spent five years at Arsenal early in his career but only made 18 senior appearances before leaving in 2016. Bayern have won seven of their last 13 meetings with Arsenal, each of the previous three to this one by a 5-1 scoreline. Bayern have eliminated Arsenal from the knockout stages of the Champions League on three occasions: 2004/05, 2012/13 and 2013/14. Bayern converted two of their eight attempts on goal, Arsenal two of 13.Line-ups
Arsenal: Raya - White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior (Zinchenko 46') - Ødegaard (c), Jorginho (Jesus 66'), Rice - Saka, Havertz (Partey 86'), Martinelli (Trossard 66')Unused subs: Ramsdale, Hein, Smith Rowe, Nketiah, Tomiyasu, Vieira, Nelson, ElnenyOut: Timber (knee)Coach: Mikel Arteta
Bayern: Neuer (c) - Kimmich, De Ligt, Dier, Davies - Laimer, Goretzka - Sané (Coman 66'), Musiala, Gnabry (Guerreiro 70') - KaneUnused subs: Peretz, Ulreich, Upamecano, Kim, Choupo-Moting, Zaragoza, Müller, Tel, Mazraoui, PavlovićOut: Boey (muscular), Buchmann (thigh), Sarr (knee)Coach: Thomas Tuchel
As it happened!
A highly-entertaining Champions League, quarter-final first leg ends 2-2 and with everything to play for at the Allianz Arena a week from Wednesday. Serge Gnabry gave Bayern the perfect start here but the Gunners responded through Bukayo Saka. Harry Kane subsequently edged the visitors in front from the penalty spot while Leandro Trossard found an equaliser in the game's final quarter hour.
© Getty
Suddenly Saka is away and cuts inside before going down with Neuer in close proximity. There was contact, but Saka kicked Neuer's leg. The referee waves play on.
We'll have five more minutes at the Emirates.
What a game this had been. Kingsley Coman is an inch from winning it for Bayern with a classy flick with the outside of the boot from close range sending the ball through Raya's legs and against the foot of the post.
Partey hacks down Musiala, preventing a Bayern counter-attack. Yellow card for the Arsenal sub.
Thomas Partey replaces Kai Havertz for the closing stages of this first leg.
Substitution
Bayern have been on the attack since the equaliser but the away side are just a little rushed in their efforts in the final third, Laimer giving away a free kick in the Bavarians' latest push into the Arsenal danger zone.
Coman looks to take control, grabbing possession and moving forward on the right. The Frenchman cuts inside and shoots tamely off target.
Arsenal are level after a solid build-up leads to the Gunners entering Bayern's area. Substitute Jesus tees up Trossard, who fires across Neuer and into the corner. The Emirates erupts.
Serge Gnabry's injury woes continue, with the attacker limping out of the contest with what looks like a hamstring problem. Raphaël Guerreiro is on.
Substitution
Harry Kane sends a low drive harmlessly wide of the upright.
Thomas Tuchel throws Kingsley Coman into the mix with the impressive Sané making way. Gabriel Jesus and Trossard are on for the Gunners.
Substitution
Substitution
Substitution
Sané turns on the afterburners and races across the pitch. He picks out Gnabry ahead of him but the forward can only toe-poke over from inside the area. He'll feel he should have done better.
Havertz throws a leg at de Ligt's calf inside the box before going down and claiming a penalty. Nothing doing, says the ref.
Arsenal take the ball from Musiala again but in their attempts to push forward, they gift possession to Laimer, who takes aim and blasts over.
Rice's free kick takes a deflection and ends up with Neuer, who launches an attack. Musiala is subsequently dispossessed and back we go the other way.
Laimer upends Saka outside the Arsenal box and Bayern have a free kick in a dangerous position to defend.
Bayern are beginning to string a few passes together and in their latest forward thrust, Leon Goretzka swipes at a shot that flies harmlessly wide.
Harry Kane lands an arm on Gabriel and the referee whips out a yellow card to show to the Bayern forward.
The away side are looking to soak up the Arsenal pressure at the start of this second half. Arteta's side have the crowd roaring them on as the men in red and white go in search of an equaliser.
© IMAGO/Simon Dael/Shutterstock
Declan Rice fails to take full advantage of a free kick out on the left, the England international shipping the ball harmlessly onto the roof of Neuer's net. The Bayern keeper had that well covered.
Arsenal begin the half on the front foot, with Saka sending the ball into the area. A free kick is awarded to Bayern, who can regroup.
The Gunners start this second half with a substitution, Oleksandr Zinchenko coming on for Jakub Kiwior.
Substitution
The second half is underway at the Emirate Stadium.
Thomas Tuchel's team go in ahead at the break after goals from Serge Gnabry and Harry Kane - from the penalty spot - helped Bayern bounce back from Bukayo Saka's opener for the Gunners. Entertainment guaranteed after the break.
© Shaun Botterill
We'll have one minute tacked on to the end of the first half.
Another Saka corner from the right sends Bayern into panic mode. Havertz is there to make contact but the Germany international fouls his man and the visitors, to their relief, are awarded a free kick.
Leroy Sané bursts away and looks to be in. He powers towards the Arsenal box before being denied by a last-gasp White challenge.
Harry Kane has now scored 39 goals for Bayern in all competition this season. He moves to the top of the Champions League goalscoring charts for 2023/24.
Harry Kane rolls the calmest of penalties down to the right, sending the Arsenal keeper the wrong way. Bayern Munich are ahead.
Sané races on and on, and on. He gets into the box and, surprisingly, a challenge still fails to come. Saliba throws out a leg in desperation and down goes Sané. Penalty.
Saka's corner from the right causes all sorts of confusion inside the Bayern box. After an almighty scramble, the ball ends up in Neuer's arms.
This has been a superb battle so far, with the pendulum swinging one way and then back the other. Bayern looked winded soon after falling behind but the Bundesliga side are back on their feet and swinging again since the equaliser.
© Shaun Botterill
Raya is a long, long way from his goal and his positioning confuses the home side, who look to play the ball out quickly. A loose pass ensues and Sané pounces, sending the ball forward to Goretzka. The midfielder plays Gnabry in and the ex-Arsenal forward slides along the floor before knocking the ball in off Raya for the equaliser.
Gnabry's loose pass is snapped up by Ødegaard who slips White in. The 26-year-old shoots straight at Neuer, who makes a crucial save.
Saka accepts White's pass inside the Bayern box, has time to turn towards goal from the right and side-foots the ball across Neuer and into the far corner. That was all a bit too easy from a Bayern point of view. The hosts lead.
Davies goes in on Saka from behind and the Arsenal forward collapses. Yellow card for Davies, who will miss the return leg.
Arsenal finally work the ball into a promising position before Martinelli fires wide from just outside the D. The Brazilian raises his arms to the crowd to generate a boost in atmosphere.
The visitors are bossing possession high inside the Arsenal half. The Premier League leaders are being forced to defend in numbers as their opponents look to find an opening. Jamal Musiala just fails to control Laimer's ball over the top and Arsenal can breathe a little.
Kane and Musiala are pressing high early on. Leroy Sané has a chance to ping one into the box from the right but his cross is headed clear.
Bayern get us underway in this Champions League quarter-final, first leg!
Both sets of players make their way out onto the pitch and we're all set for the Champions League anthem.
The Bavarians boast a solid record against English teams in European competition. In 61 games, FCB have triumphed 27 times, scoring 111 goals. They have lost on just 16 occasions.
Both sides are being put through their pre-game paces inside a rapidly-filling Emirates Stadium. The atmosphere is building nicely ahead of kick-off.
8:09
Super Serge is back to full fitness and is all set for a 47th appearance in the UEFA Champions League. The former Arsenal player boasts 15 goals and nine assists in European club football's elite competition. As we await the start of tonight's game, why not sit back and enjoy all the attacker's Bundesliga goals.
Bayern welcome captain Manuel Neuer back from injury while Leroy Sané is also back in the visiting set-up having sat out the Heidenheim game with a groin issue. Thomas Müller - who made it 700 games for the Bundesliga side at the weekend - is on the bench. Matthijs de Ligt and Eric Dier replace Kim and Dayot Upamecano in central defence while Harry Kane leads the line for Thomas Tuchel's team. Former Bayer Leverkusen forward Kai Havertz continues up top for Arsenal with Jesus - who began the weekend win against Brighton - is on the bench. The latter shift means Gabriel Martinelli comes in, as does Jakub Kiwior for Oleksandr Zinchenko.
© imago images / AFLOSPORT
Neuer (c) - Kimmich, De Ligt, Dier, Davies - Laimer, Goretzka - Sané, Musiala, Gnabry - Kane
Peretz, Ulreich, Upamecano, Kim, Coman, Choupo-Moting, Zaragoza, Guerreiro, Müller, Tel, Mazraoui, Pavlović
Raya - White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior - Ødegaard (c), Jorginho, Rice - Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Ramsdale, Hein, Partey, Jesus, Smith Rowe, Nketiah, Tomiyasu, Trossard, Vieira, Nelson, Elneny, Zinchenko
5:01
A former Arsenal youth, Kane netted 14 times in 19 outings with Tottenham against the Gunners, five of which came at the Emirates Stadium, scene of tonight's quarter-final first leg.
We mentioned earlier that the previously injured Manuel Neuer is in Bayern's match squad for the first leg. Aleksandar Pavlović, Kingsley Coman, Leroy Sané, and Noussair Mazraoui were also missing for the Heidenheim loss last weekend, but all have travelled to London.
© IMAGO/kolbert-press/Burghard Schreyer/IMAGO/kolbert-press
Bayern's No.7 joined Arsenal as a 16-year-old from Stuttgart back in 2011 and the Germany international told his current club's official website that he was excited about his first return to the team he once earned a Golden Boy Award nomination with. "I'm really looking forward to it," the 28-year-old said of tonight's game. "During the draw, I said it was bound to happen. I'm extremely happy to be going there again after almost eight years. That time had a huge impact on me. Daring to leave my familiar surroundings at 16 was a huge step, both on a personal and footballing level. Playing for a club like Arsenal was a great privilege at the time."
© ADRIAN DENNIS
"Their form is really solid and they define themselves as a team. They're also the best side in Europe from set pieces. We're a little behind. They're playing at a consistently high level for the second year in a row and they play with a lot of energy. There's been a culture change under Arteta."
© Imago Images
4:07
The Germany international is likely to be key to Bayern's hopes of outwitting Arsenal thanks to his skill in tight spaces, astonishing dribbling ability and eye for a killer pass. Here's what you need to know about the 21-year-old...
"What [Kane] has done in the past 10 years is unbelievable. He can score in so many different ways. He's got the service and the players around him as well to provide him. That's what we have to try to avoid. We have a big task against one of the most successful clubs in the Champions League. We're looking forward to it. Bayern are a top team. I'm a big admirer of Thomas Tuchel and the way he sets up his teams."
© Getty Images
1:32
Aleksandar Pavlović is also back in the Bayern camp, having withdrawn from the Germany squad during the international break in what was his first-ever call-up due to a bout of tonsillitis. A subsequent illness has prevented him from playing again - until now that is. Check out the video above to see just what it is the teenager brings to the Bayern team.
Bayern have emerged victorious on three of their last four visits to Arsenal, winning 3-1 (2013), 2-0 (2014) and 5-1 (2017). Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, Sven Ulreich and Thomas Müller are the only members still in the squad from that most recent triumph.
Bayern, however, are keen to look forwards rather than dwell on that unexpected defeat. To that end, they will be encouraged by the fact captain and No.1 goalkeeper Manuel Neuer travelled to London with the rest of the squad after a couple of weeks on the sidelines with a groin complaint.
© Imago Images
0:25
Tuchel gave his post-match thoughts to bundesliga.com in the wake of Bayern's shock 3-2 defeat in Heidenheim on Saturday, having been 2.0 up at half-time.
Realistically, the Champions League is Bayern's last hope for winning a trophy this season. Already out of the DFB Cup and now 16 points behind runaway Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen, Thomas Tuchel's men will want to pull out all the stops to avoid ending the campaign empty handed.
Thanks for joining us for build-up and live match coverage of Bayern's quarter-final, first-leg tie at Arsenal.
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