Arsenal and Bayern Munich drew on Tuesday in London in the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League (2-2).
Published on: 04/09/2024 – 23:27
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Arsenal, led for a long time, managed to secure a draw against Bayern Munich (2-2), their bogeyman in the Champions League, thanks to the contribution of their replacements.
The pre-match of this quarter-final was disrupted by threats from the Islamic State jihadist group against the premier European competition, but football quickly resumed its rights at the Emirates, scene of a lively poster , rich in twists and turns and tense, until the last second.
At home, the Premier League leader showed all the colors to the “Gooners”, the nickname of his supporters. The latter went from ecstasy with Bukayo Saka’s opening score (12th, 1-0), to doubt after being overthrown in twenty minutes (18th, 32nd), then to the madness of a deserved equalizer ( 76th).
Announced favorites by virtue of a much more virtuous dynamic, facing an opponent who eliminated them in each confrontation in the competition (2013, 2014 and 2017), Arsenal pushed from start to finish but were betrayed by their defense, yet the best in the kingdom. In any case, we should never bury Bayern Munich, a German giant with six Champions League titles, even if its star has faded significantly during a failed season in Germany.
The “Rekordmeister” places his last hopes in the C1 to avoid a blank season (without a trophy) which he has not experienced since 2012. And this requires a victory against Arsenal, present in the quarterfinals for the first time in fourteen years .
Arsenal strike from the start
The Londoners took the upper hand from the start on Tuesday, and their domination was confirmed by a brushed shot from Saka which bypassed Eric Dier and Manuel Neuer, the veteran goalkeeper just returned from injury (12th, 1-0).
The performance of the English winger, involved in eight goals (four scored and four assists) in eight Champions League matches this season, was however quickly erased.
Is this due to the success of the Bavarian attackers? Or rather to the bankruptcy of the English defense? Still, the latter has conceded twice in a quarter of an hour, even though it had not conceded a single goal so far at home in C1.
The two central defenders, Gabriel and William Saliba, made fatal errors, contrary to the praise they constantly receive in the kingdom.
The Brazilian first missed a restart, the ball returned to Leon Goretzka who found Serge Gnabry (18th, 1-1), winger whose career was launched in the Arsenal jersey.
Saliba, too static, then brought down Leroy Sané with a tripped foot in the area. Harry Harry Kane, the former glory of Tottenham, Arsenal’s enemy club, was responsible for converting the penalty without worry (32nd, 1-2).
The “Gunners”, however, courageously continued to attack the opposing lines and this determination ended up paying off, quite late.
Late equalizer
The release came from the feet of two substitutes: Gabriel Jesus dribbled into the area before serving Leandro Trossard (76th, 2-2), also entered ten minutes earlier.
The Bayern bench almost responded through Kingsley Coman, but the Frenchman’s attempt hit a post from David Raya (90th).
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The stadium rose as one in added time when Saka collapsed in the area, touched by Neuer, but the referee obviously felt that the English winger had dragged his leg to win a penalty.
The suspense will only be greater when they return on April 17 in Munich.
With AFP
