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A draw against Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals would ordinarily be cause for celebration for a club only just returning to European football’s top table. However, Arsenal will no doubt head away from Tuesday’s first leg would a gnawing sense of what could have been if they’d only replicated the defensive solidity they’ve become famous for since the turn of the year.
It all started so well, too. Arsenal flew out of the traps and deservedly went ahead through Bukayo Saka’s wonderful, curling effort inside 12 minutes. That goal was all about the Gunners’ intensity, with their ferocious pressing forcing a Bayern error.
But they let their foot off the gas, which gifted Harry Kane and Co a route back into the tie. First, a calamity of errors allowed Serge Gnabry to ghost in ahead of Ben White and turn home Leon Goretzka’s through-ball. Then, things got even worse, with William Saliba’s clumsy foul in the box allowing Kane to net his 15th goal against the Gunners from the penalty spot.
For much of the second period it seemed like Die Roten would be able to hold onto their advantage, but with the hope draining from a previously feverish Emirates, two substitutes, Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard, combined to level things up, with the Belgian finishing off his team-mate’s cutback cooly.
That goal means the two sides will head into next week’s decider all square, but things could have got even better right at the death when Saka was sent clean through. Instead of shooting, though, the England international came together with Manuel Neuer, with the penalty appeals waved away.
GOAL rates Arsenal’s players from the Emirates Stadium…
Goalkeeper & Defence
David Raya (5/10):
Did he need to come for the first goal? Probably not. Completely fooled by Kane for the penalty.
Ben White (5/10):
Missed a big chance at 1-1 and didn’t cover himself in glory for Gnabry’s equaliser.
William Saliba (4/10):
So far off his normal, composed standards. Giving the penalty away summed up a testing night under the lights.
Gabriel Magalhaes (4/10):
Made a poor error in the lead up to the first goal and was at fault again before his partner brought Sane down in the box. A pretty terrible evening.
Jakub Kiwior (5/10):
Rolled far too easily by Sane before his mazy run led to the spot-kick. Subbed for Zinchenko at half-time after doing very little.
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Midfield
Jorginho (5/10):
Failed to bring his normal control. Gave away the ball needlessly couple of times and was a yard short of the pace out of possession.
Declan Rice (5/10):
Felt a little withdrawn from the action in the first half. Might be time to move him back to the base of midfield for the second leg.
Martin Odegaard (6/10):
Arsenal’s most potent creative force. Was involved in almost everything good his side did over the course of the evening.
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Attack
Bukayo Saka (6/10):
Rose to the occasion with an sumptuous finish early on. Did not get much luck thereafter. Why he didn’t shoot at the end is a mystery.
Kai Havertz (7/10):
Another good display up front. Link-up play was good and his interception led to Saka’s goal. Impressive work rate, too.
Gabriel Martinelli (4/10):
Didn’t really get into the game, with Kimmich largely getting the better of him
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Subs & Manager
Oleksandr Zinchenko (6/10):
Showed some nice touches when inverting. Wouldn’t be surprising if he started the second leg ahead of Kiwior.
Gabriel Jesus (7/10):
What lovely feet! Arsenal desperately needed a moment of magic and the Brazilian provided it with his fine assist.
Leandro Trossard (7/10):
Came on to score another important goal for his side, taking his chance expertly.
Mikel Arteta (6/10):
Stretched his rather miserable European knockout record at the Emirates to one win from seven attempts. Deserves credit for shifting things around with his subs, who combined for the leveller.
