Arsenal vs Bayern: The Bavarians secure a 2-2 draw against the high-flying Gunners in the first leg of the UCL 2023-24 Quarter-Finals

Leandro Trossard’s late second-half equalizer helped Arsenal secure a 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals. The Gunners did score early and took the lead but the German Giants made a brilliant comeback and went up front inside just 32 minutes of the first half. Arsenal were behind after taking the lead in their own home Emirates, despite getting extra support as Bayern fans were not allowed because of a UEFA sanction against the club. Arsenal were able to fill all 60,000 seats with home supporters. The Gunners kept most of the possessions but couldn't win the first leg and now it's an advantage for the Bavarians in the second leg at the Allianz Arena.

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Arsenal vs Bayern: A chaotic first leg at the Emirates

The last time these two teams played, Bayern thrashed Arsenal 10-2 on aggregate after two 5-1 wins in the round of 16 back in 2017. But this time the situation is completely different. Bayern are having its worst Bundesliga season in more than a decade and has already lost the title race to Bayer Leverkusen under Thomas Tuchel. On the other side, Arsenal are currently sitting top of the Premier League points table and beating their opposition by scoring plenty of goals. They were the favourites before coming into this game. 

But, they struggled to beat Porto in the RO16 and now missed the opportunity to take the advantage before entering the Allianz Arena. It was a chaotic first leg at the Emirates with the players committing a lot of fouls for the entire ninety minutes. Arsenal kept 60% ball possession but could only manage to test Manuel Neuer at goal four or five times. But, Bayern were clinical in taking their chances and now they are heading into the second leg with a slightly more advantage than Arsenal although they are terrible this season at home too.

The hosts had taken a 12th-minute lead through Bukayo Saka and dominated the early stages until their ex-player Serge Gnabry scored the equalizer in the 18th minute following a mistake by defender Gabriel. Although the goal was avoidable. Declan Rice made a mistake too. He panicked and tried to press the Bayern players and Goretzka found space to make an in-ground run. He made that run beautifully, receiving a pinpoint pass, and then played Gnabry just beside who didn't make any mistake in getting past David Raya in Arsenal's goal.

Ex-London player Harry Kane then put Bayern ahead from the penalty spot in the 32nd minute but how did that happen in the first place? Arsenal's first-half defending was terrible and it is not the first time they have made those mistakes at the back. William Saliba who is one of the best defenders in the Premier League right now brought down Leroy Sane inside the box. Sane was excellent in the game and he won the penalty for his side. Harry Kane didn't go for power as he just calmly put the ball in the back of the net. Kane has now scored 39 goals and 10 assists in his debut season with the Bavarians in all competitions (38 matches). The former Tottenham Hotspur striker is also the leading marksman (15 goals) against the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium since 2006.

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Arsenal got their equalizer in the 76th minute with the help of two substitutes, Trossard and Gabriel Jesus. Trossard found the bottom corner after some good play by Gabriel Jesus. After Trossard's equalizer, there was still some late drama left in the game. Kingsley Coman almost scored a 90th-minute winner for Bayern, but his flick from close range hit the post. On the other end, Saka had a penalty appeal in the fifth minute of stoppage time but the referee wasn't convinced and the VAR proved him right.

“It was a tough game. Of course, we are never happy when we don’t win," said Harry Kane after the match.

“We started so well. We could have scored two or three goals after taking the lead," Trossard said. “You can see what kind of quality Bayern Munich have to hurt us,” the goal-scorer added.

“In the Champions League, you cannot give anything to the opponent. We have given them two goals today,” the Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said after the game.

Arsenal are winless in the first leg of each of their last eight knockout encounters of the Uefa Champions League (D1 L7). Their last win came in 2010-11 against FC Barcelona in round 16 while Bayern Munich have progressed from six of the eight previous occasions when they have drawn an away first-leg clash in a two-legged tie. So, the advantage is on Bayern's side but Arsenal are playing brilliant football at the moment. Bayern are not having a good season and they played pretty badly in this game too. It is going to be an exciting second leg on 18th April.