Arsenal and Bayern Munich draw Champions League ties

Arsenal and Bayern Munich played out an enthralling 2-2 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final encounter, with Leandro Trossard’s late goal extending the Gunners’ unbeaten streak to eight matches across all competitions. After suffering defeats in their previous three competitive meetings against Bayern by significant margins, Arsenal aimed for a strong start against the German giants.

Fuelled by the fervent support of their home crowd, Arsenal seized an early lead within 12 minutes when Bukayo Saka expertly curled the ball into the net after receiving a precise pass from Ben White. The Gunners nearly doubled their advantage moments later, but Manuel Neuer denied White’s close-range effort.

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However, Bayern quickly responded against the run of play, with Serge Gnabry capitalizing on a slick combination between Leroy Sane and Leon Goretzka to slot home the equalizer in the 18th minute. The Bavarians seized the momentum and surged ahead when Harry Kane converted a penalty following William Saliba’s foul on Sane, giving Bayern the lead heading into halftime.

Determined to regain control, Arsenal intensified their efforts in the second half, but Bayern’s defense remained resolute, limiting the Gunners’ scoring opportunities. Mikel Arteta introduced Gabriel Jesus and Trossard to inject fresh attacking impetus, and their combination proved decisive as Trossard swept home Jesus’s lay-off in the 76th minute to level the scores once again.

Both teams pushed for a late winner, with Bayern coming closest as Kingsley Coman struck the post with a clever flick. However, neither side could find a breakthrough in the closing stages, setting the stage for an intriguing second leg clash.

The draw leaves the tie finely balanced, with both Arsenal and Bayern eager to secure a spot in the Champions League semi-finals. As the two teams prepare for the return leg next week, anticipation is high for another exhilarating encounter between these European heavyweights.