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Arsenal needed a impressive performance and favorable result against a European powerhouse, but Renée Slegers’s side surrendered their 2-0 advantage and all three points to Bayern Munich far too easily, casting their Champions League defence into tricky waters.

Different Fortunes from Previous Campaign

In the previous campaign, a inspiring fightback from 2-1 down to a 3-2 victory over Bayern in their final group game made up for their opening 5-2 loss to the German opponents and kickstarted their remarkable journey to the championship match. It represented a pivotal moment in their season, showing a resilience that propelled them to a second Champions League title. Their breakdown here demonstrated they are yet to recapture the fighting spirit that ensured success in May.

Fan Support in Munich

Over four hundred Arsenal fans had traveled to Munich, many gathering at the Hofbräuhaus before the game for their pre-match meet-up. They were shoved into a section of the middle tier at the Allianz Arena, but still made their voices heard, battling against the vocal local supporters of over 15,000 that brought the noise in the lower tier.

Learning from Previous Performance

Daphne van Domselaar had stated her team had "given their all" in their 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Saturday. They were "deeply disappointed" by the outcome against the WSL champions, with controversial officiating bearing the brunt of those disappointments.

The goal, though, was to channel the momentum of that impressive second-half display to Germany with them. Arsenal had begun poorly against Chelsea. In Munich they executed their strategy and there was no repeat of that slow start.

Strong Start for Arsenal

They opened on the front foot. Beth Mead was particularly energetic and caused problems for the Bayern defender Franziska Kett and the central player Japanese international on the right as Arsenal's intense pressure proved effective.

It was Mead's effort that ensured Arsenal took the lead in the fifth minute, the England forward's shot unusually parried by the Bayern goalkeeper, the German shot-stopper. The midfielder was there to nod the ball back over the keeper and in.

Doubling the Lead

Arsenal's next score arrived midway through the half. Bayern's insistence on building from defense had been dangerous and was exploited. Mead cut out the defender's wayward ball and passed to Stina Blackstenius, who directed it towards Mariona Caldentey on the edge of the box. The mercurial midfielder took a touch to create space from the defender before driving past the goalkeeper.

After Break Turnaround

The intensity dropped a little in the final period. The Bayern coach turned to his bench to try to bring his side into the game: the former Chelsea forward Danish international, whose hat-trick in October 2024 turned the match from 2-2 to 5-2, came on and Italian midfielder and Turkish talent arrived soon after. The final substitute would make Arsenal sweat first, flying away on the break and receiving from German winger before guiding the ball past the Arsenal keeper.

Complete Comeback

It was Bayern in the ascendancy after the gap narrowed, the hosts believing they could take something from the game. Harder produced, floating a looping ball in from the penalty box to equalize. They did not just want to draw, though: they wanted it all, and six minutes later they had the advantage, Icelandic defender scoring at the near post from the winger's delivery. This time it was a poor finish that let down Arsenal and, with one win from their European matches, they have a major challenge ahead.