Arsenal v Bayern Mun
Arsenal 2
Giroud 77′ Özil 90′
Bayern Mun 0
FT 90 +5
HT 0-0
Bayern Munich were unbeaten in both the league and Champions League before losing to Arsenal
20 October 2015
Last updated at
23:46
By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer at Emirates Stadium
Arsenal revived their Champions League hopes in thrilling fashion with a crucial victory over Bayern Munich at Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners’ hopes of reaching the knockout phase were in serious jeopardy after they lost their opening two games away to Dinamo Zagreb and at home to Olympiakos.
Arsene Wenger’s side responded by beating Pep Guardiola’s Bayern – clear favourites to win Group F – and make a nonsense of those dismal earlier performances.
Bayern dominated possession but Arsenal dug out the win that keeps their hopes alive when substitute Olivier Giroud bundled home from close range in the 77th minute after goalkeeper Manuel Neuer made a rare error as he missed Santi Cazorla’s free-kick.
The win was secured in the dying seconds when Mesut Ozil turned in Hector Bellerin’s cross, Neuer clawing the ball out only for the officials to adjudge it had crossed the line.
Arsenal were indebted to keeper Petr Cech, restored after replacement David Ospina’s mistake in the defeat by Olympiakos, saving superbly from Thiago Alcantara and Arturo Vidal.
Neuer also excelled before his mistake, particularly with a sensational save from Theo Walcott’s first-half header.
Relive how the Champions League action unfolded
Listen back to both Arsenal goals on BBC Radio 5 live
The different faces of Manuel Neuer
Neuer is widely regarded as the world’s best – but it was a mixed night for Germany’s World Cup winner.
He produced a save only the greats can contemplate when clawing out Walcott’s close-range header when a goal seemed certain.
Could Walcott’s header have been directed better? Did he give Neuer just that slight chance of making a save that the best will always take advantage of?
Yes, but it was still a monument to reflexes, agility and technique as Neuer left Walcott dumbfounded, as well as Aaron Ramsey, who had already turned to celebrate.
Neuer, however, proved he was fallible as Arsenal took the lead, making an ungainly dash from goal and flapping hopelessly at Cazorla’s free-kick to allow Giroud to scramble home with a hint of handball.
It happens to the best – and it may just have saved Arsenal’s Champions League campaign.
Manuel Neuer made four saves in the first half, the best a one-handed stop to deny Theo Walcott
Neuer’s save was praised by a number of current and former footballers, with ex-Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina tweeting: “That’s why he is the number one in the world.”
Neuer had not conceded twice in one game this season before the trip to Arsenal
Cech proves a point
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was
uncharacteristically touchy
when it was suggested he made a mistake in preferring David Ospina to first choice Petr Cech in their previous Champions League game at home to Olympiakos.
It backfired as Ospina dropped a simple catch from a corner into his own net in the
damaging 3-2 defeat.
Wenger was defiant in the face of claims he had made a serious error but the case against him only got stronger with 33-year-old Cech’s return and performance against Bayern Munich.
Cech was in the action quickly with a superb reflex save from Thiago and also showed his enduring athleticism to save from Vidal.
This is not to suggest Ospina is a poor keeper – the Colombian is not – but when you have a keeper of Cech’s quality at your disposal it is folly to leave him out of a game you cannot afford to lose.
Wenger did make a mistake when he dropped Cech. This game proved it.
Petr Cech was making his first appearance in the Champions League this season
The great Arsenal mystery
Arsenal’s Champions League aspirations were wrecked last season by a performance of naivety and defensive incompetence in equal measure against Monaco in February when they
lost 3-1
at home as they went out in the last 16.
The performance in defeat against Olympiakos was not far behind and left Arsenal fans infuriated.
Before that fixture, Wenger had said Arsenal “must win” all their home games but, after twice falling behind, they threw away the chance of a point when they conceded what proved the winner almost immediately after Alexis Sanchez’s equaliser.
How can a team that play so poorly against those opponents acquit themselves so well against Bayern Munich, accepted as a member of European football’s royalty under the guidance of one of the game’s great coaches in Pep Guardiola?
Guardiola is used to enjoying possession without victory at Emirates. When Barcelona lost a two-goal lead to draw here in April 2010, Arsenal only had 38% of possession – in the first half here Bayern enjoyed a 74.5% share.
And yet, once more, Arsenal dug in. They were defensively resilient, dogged in midfield and, even though the two goals were scrambled, they may well prove to be priceless.
Bayern Munich had a passing accuracy of 90.7% while Arsenal had 74.5%
Man of the match – Petr Cech
Wisely restored after being left out against Olympiakos. Authority, experience, excellence.
What this means for Arsenal
The Gunners remain bottom of the table, but are level on three points with Dinamo Zagreb and three behind both Olympiakos and Bayern Munich.
Wenger’s side face Bayern at the Allianz Arena on 4 November, before hosting Dinamo later that month.
They finish their group stage campaign at Olympiakos on 9 December.
The top two in each group progress to the knockout stage, with the team finishing third going into the Europa League.
The pundit’s view
John Hartson on BBC Radio 5 live: “This was a massive result. Arsenal needed a result and three points.
“They are firmly back in the group and it keeps the momentum going.
“They had to defend for their lives but what a win for Arsenal.”
The stats you need to know
Olivier Giroud’s past four goals for Arsenal have come from the bench
This is the first time Bayern have failed to win at Emirates Stadium, on their third visit
This was the first time Bayern failed to score in a Champions League group since December 2011, against Man City
Bayern Munich have won only one of their past six away games in the Champions League (D1 L4)
Arsene Wenger is the first manager to beat Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona and Bayern Munich teams in the Champions League
Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (5)
Arsenal
33 Cech
24 Bellerín
04 Mertesacker
06 Koscielny
18 Monreal
19 Cazorla
34 Coquelin
16 Ramsey (Oxlade-Chamberlain – 57′ )
11 Özil
17 Sánchez (Gibbs – 82′ )
14 Walcott (Giroud – 74′ Booked )
Substitutes
02 Debuchy
03 Gibbs
08 Arteta
12 Giroud
15 Oxlade-Chamberlain
21 Chambers
49 Macey
Bayern Munich
01 Neuer
21 Lahm
17 Boateng
27 Alaba
18 Bernat
14 Alonso (Kimmich – 70′ )
25 Müller
06 Thiago Alcántara
23 Vidal (Rafinha – 71′ )
11 Douglas Costa
09 Lewandowski
Substitutes
08 Javi Martínez
13 Rafinha
15 Kirchhoff
16 Gaudino
26 Ulreich
29 Coman
32 Kimmich
Ref: Cüneyt Çakir
Att: 49,824
Match Stats
Possession
27 73
Shots
13 21
On target
8 6
Corners
5 11
Fouls
9 7
Live Text Commentary
Full time
Full Time Match ends, Arsenal 2, FC Bayern München 0.
90:00 +4:25 Full time
Full Time Second Half ends, Arsenal 2, FC Bayern München 0.
90:00 +3:10 Goal scored
Goal! Goal! Arsenal 2, FC Bayern München 0. Mesut Özil (Arsenal) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Héctor Bellerín.
90:00 +2:11
Foul by Robert Lewandowski (FC Bayern München).
90:00 +2:11
Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
88:57
Attempt saved. Thiago Alcántara (FC Bayern München) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by David Alaba.
88:25
Offside, Arsenal. Mesut Özil tries a through ball, but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is caught offside.
86:49
Attempt blocked. David Alaba (FC Bayern München) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
86:27
Corner, FC Bayern München. Conceded by Petr Cech.
86:06
Corner, FC Bayern München. Conceded by Nacho Monreal.
84:25
Douglas Costa (FC Bayern München) wins a free kick on the right wing.
84:25
Foul by Nacho Monreal (Arsenal).
83:53
Attempt blocked. Douglas Costa (FC Bayern München) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Juan Bernat with a cross.
82:59 Booking
Booking Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
82:57
Manuel Neuer (FC Bayern München) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
82:57
Foul by Olivier Giroud (Arsenal).
82:52
Attempt saved. Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mesut Özil with a cross.
82:16
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by David Alaba.
81:50 Substitution
Substitution Substitution, Arsenal. Kieran Gibbs replaces Alexis Sánchez.
80:22
Hand ball by Olivier Giroud (Arsenal).
76:29 Goal scored
Goal! Goal! Arsenal 1, FC Bayern München 0. Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Santiago Cazorla with a cross following a set piece situation.
75:53
Foul by Joshua Kimmich (FC Bayern München).
75:53
Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
75:25
Attempt missed. Thomas Müller (FC Bayern München) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Rafinha.
74:18
Corner, FC Bayern München. Conceded by Petr Cech.
74:15
Attempt saved. Robert Lewandowski (FC Bayern München) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Douglas Costa.
73:38 Substitution
Substitution Substitution, Arsenal. Olivier Giroud replaces Theo Walcott.
71:48
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Thiago Alcántara.
70:18 Substitution
Substitution Substitution, FC Bayern München. Rafinha replaces Arturo Vidal.
69:58 Substitution
Substitution Substitution, FC Bayern München. Joshua Kimmich replaces Xabi Alonso.
68:11
Attempt saved. Theo Walcott (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mesut Özil with a cross.
63:30
Foul by Xabi Alonso (FC Bayern München).
63:30
Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
59:58
Attempt missed. Xabi Alonso (FC Bayern München) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
59:56
Attempt blocked. Robert Lewandowski (FC Bayern München) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Thiago Alcántara.
57:53
Attempt missed. Francis Coquelin (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Mesut Özil.
57:27
Foul by Xabi Alonso (FC Bayern München).
57:27
Santiago Cazorla (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
56:53
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
56:52 Substitution
Substitution Substitution, Arsenal. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaces Aaron Ramsey because of an injury.
55:46
Delay in match Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) because of an injury.
54:41
Attempt saved. Douglas Costa (FC Bayern München) left footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the right is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Xabi Alonso.
53:57
Corner, FC Bayern München. Conceded by Petr Cech.
53:55
Attempt saved. Robert Lewandowski (FC Bayern München) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top right corner.
51:30
Thiago Alcántara (FC Bayern München) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
51:30
Foul by Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal).
50:15
Attempt missed. Douglas Costa (FC Bayern München) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Xabi Alonso.
48:48
Offside, Arsenal. Laurent Koscielny tries a through ball, but Theo Walcott is caught offside.
48:18
Attempt missed. Xabi Alonso (FC Bayern München) right footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the right. Assisted by Thiago Alcántara.
47:07
Corner, FC Bayern München. Conceded by Laurent Koscielny.
45:00
Second Half begins Arsenal 0, FC Bayern München 0.
45:00 +0:05 Half time
Half Time First Half ends, Arsenal 0, FC Bayern München 0.
43:12
Attempt blocked. Thiago Alcántara (FC Bayern München) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Douglas Costa.
42:37
Corner, FC Bayern München. Conceded by Laurent Koscielny.
42:34
Attempt blocked. Robert Lewandowski (FC Bayern München) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Xabi Alonso with a cross.
41:49
Corner, FC Bayern München. Conceded by Per Mertesacker.
41:47
Attempt blocked. Douglas Costa (FC Bayern München) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
40:56
Attempt blocked. Juan Bernat (FC Bayern München) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Xabi Alonso.
36:56
Attempt saved. Theo Walcott (Arsenal) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Santiago Cazorla.
35:57
Offside, Arsenal. Nacho Monreal tries a through ball, but Laurent Koscielny is caught offside.
35:16
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by David Alaba.
34:00
Offside, Arsenal. Mesut Özil tries a through ball, but Theo Walcott is caught offside.
32:50
Offside, Arsenal. Aaron Ramsey tries a through ball, but Nacho Monreal is caught offside.
32:48
Attempt blocked. Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked.
32:46
Attempt saved. Theo Walcott (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Nacho Monreal with a cross.
31:01
Foul by Robert Lewandowski (FC Bayern München).
31:01
Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
30:02
Attempt missed. Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right following a corner.
29:31
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Manuel Neuer.
28:59
Attempt missed. Theo Walcott (Arsenal) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Alexis Sánchez.
27:53
Attempt missed. Thiago Alcántara (FC Bayern München) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Douglas Costa with a cross.
27:48
Attempt saved. Arturo Vidal (FC Bayern München) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Xabi Alonso.
25:09
Robert Lewandowski (FC Bayern München) wins a free kick on the left wing.
25:09
Foul by Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal).
24:08
Attempt missed. Robert Lewandowski (FC Bayern München) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high. Assisted by Arturo Vidal.
23:41
Douglas Costa (FC Bayern München) wins a free kick on the left wing.
23:41
Foul by Héctor Bellerín (Arsenal).
22:04
Attempt saved. Theo Walcott (Arsenal) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
19:31
Foul by Arturo Vidal (FC Bayern München).
19:31
Santiago Cazorla (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the right wing.
18:58
Attempt missed. Juan Bernat (FC Bayern München) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a corner.
18:28
Corner, FC Bayern München. Conceded by Petr Cech.
15:25
Corner, FC Bayern München. Conceded by Per Mertesacker.
13:42
Arturo Vidal (FC Bayern München) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
13:42
Foul by Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal).
12:59
Corner, FC Bayern München. Conceded by Aaron Ramsey.
12:57
Attempt blocked. David Alaba (FC Bayern München) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Philipp Lahm.
11:56
Jerome Boateng (FC Bayern München) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
11:56
Foul by Theo Walcott (Arsenal).
10:46
Attempt saved. Thiago Alcántara (FC Bayern München) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Thomas Müller with a through ball.
6:45
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Philipp Lahm.
6:44
Attempt blocked. Theo Walcott (Arsenal) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is blocked.
6:42
Attempt saved. Mesut Özil (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Alexis Sánchez.
3:52
Corner, FC Bayern München. Conceded by Laurent Koscielny.
3:18
Robert Lewandowski (FC Bayern München) wins a free kick on the left wing.
3:18
Foul by Héctor Bellerín (Arsenal).
2:23
Offside, Arsenal. Santiago Cazorla tries a through ball, but Héctor Bellerín is caught offside.
0:55
Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
0:55
Foul by Juan Bernat (FC Bayern München).
0:00
First Half begins.
0:00
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
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