Arsenal go top as Martinelli puts finishing touch to win against Bayern Munich | Champions League

This was billed as a conflict of two of one of the best groups in Europe and for many of a chilly night in north London it felt prefer it. An absorbing recreation that ebbed and flowed all through had Bayern Munich’s rising teenager Lennart Karl cancel out Jurrien Timber’s opening objective from a nook earlier than substitutes Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli sealed a deserved win for the house aspect. It maintains their 100% report within the Champions League and sends them prime of the desk.

Harry Kane let it slip within the buildup that scoring in opposition to Arsenal offers him “a bit extra pleasure” than some other membership. However the England striker with 27 objectives for his membership to his title this season barely had a sniff as a Bayern Munich aspect that had additionally received their first 4 matches within the Champions League group stage and had been unbeaten in 21 earlier video games this season have been taught a lesson. A spot within the knockout levels now appears a mere formality.

Whereas it was an evening to neglect for Myles Lewis-Skelly on a uncommon begin as he was given a extreme take a look at by 17-year-old Karl and Leandro Trossard limped off injured earlier than half-time, the return of captain Martin Ødegaard from a knee damage that has saved him out for a month was another excuse for Mikel Arteta to be cheerful.

With each week that passes, Arsenal look extra like a successful staff and maybe their supervisor’s pre-game comment that they continue to be “in a distinct universe” to the six-time European champions Bayern, having but to win this competitors, could possibly be consigned to historical past if they’ll hold this up.

A Premier League showdown with second-placed Chelsea on Sunday shall be an extra take a look at of their credentials, however in the mean time they’re passing each take a look at.

“We’ve actually been very, very constant within the competitors. Nevertheless it’s just the start,” stated Arteta. “The power we created within the stadium, what the staff transmits, the power that we deliver, the standard we play with. It’s unbelievable and now we have to keep up that as a result of it’s nonetheless very early.”

Bayern’s gameplan appeared to attempt to take the sting out of a boisterous residence crowd nonetheless on a excessive from Sunday’s evisceration of Tottenham. They dominated possession within the opening 20 minutes as Arsenal have been restricted to 2 makes an attempt from set-pieces that have been each flagged offside. There was to be no such reprieve when Timber leaped highest on the close to submit to move in Bukayo Saka’s nook.

Kane admitted grudgingly beforehand that Arsenal have capitalised on the current proliferation of objectives from set-pieces, however Bayern’s defenders have been extremely sluggish to react because the Dutchman creeped in entrance of Manuel Neuer to use the completion.

The objective galvanised Arsenal because the excellent Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi started to take management in midfield. Bayern have been pushed again deeper and one stray cross from Kane was met with hearty jeers.

However after Eberechi Eze couldn’t fairly get his shot away after exchanging passes with Mikel Merino, Bayern responded with a sucker punch. A raking ball from the again by Joshua Kimmich picked out the run of Serge Gnabry and his contact was excellent for the diminutive Karl – who turned Bayern’s youngest goalscorer on this competitors final month and has been tipped for a call-up for Germany’s World Cup squad by the previous captain Lothar Matthaus –to fireside into the online first time.

Arsenal appeared shellshocked they usually might have discovered themselves behind had Josip Stanisic not dragged his shot large when Lewis-Skelly was once more caught out of place.

There was extra dangerous information for Arsenal when Trossard needed to limp off simply earlier than the break after receiving therapy. The Belgium ahead headed straight down the tunnel and was changed by Madueke. “He stated he felt one thing, we didn’t need to take any danger,” stated Arteta.

Dressed extra like he was off to a skatepark in saggy trousers and a hoodie, his reverse quantity, Vincent Kompany, appeared on nervously at any time when Bayern conceded a set-piece within the second half. “That’s one thing they’ve mastered greater than anybody else,” he stated.

“I don’t assume any of us need to be one of the best staff in November. We get to point out how we react now.

Merino was inches large of the goal with one other header from a nook earlier than Kompany was proven a yellow card for protesting when Dayot Upamecano took out Madueke. The strain was constructing.

Someway Saka didn’t react rapidly sufficient when Neuer saved along with his foot to disclaim a rampaging Rice and an open objective went begging. It took an error from Upamecano to lastly restore their lead as he gave the ball straight to Rice and Riccardo Calafiori’s first involvement after coming off the bench was to arrange his fellow substitute Madueke for a tap-in.

Bayern pressed ahead in the hunt for an equaliser. Eze’s lengthy ball caught out Neuer on the midway line and a intelligent contact from Martinelli along with his thigh to take the ball away from the Bayern goalkeeper arrange a easy end and underline that Arsenal undoubtedly means enterprise this time.