• SAM

Neither Mikel Arteta nor Thomas Tuchel will be too disappointed with a 2-2 draw from the first-leg of the Champions League quarter-final between Arsenal and Bayern Munich.

It was a match of high quality with some pulsating football played by both teams, although the home crowd were left furious at the end of the game when they weren’t awarded a penalty.

Arsenal were heavy favorites coming into the match given their domestic form and Bayern Munich‘s own struggles in the Bundesliga.

The match started in such a manner with the London club having a swagger about them, and it came as no surprise when Bukayo Saka opened the scoring with a lovely curled shot into the bottom corner.

Perhaps Arsenal got too confident with their early lead, but a defensive lapse allowed the Bavarian club into the game.

David Raya was expected to come and easily claim a ball in the middle of Arsenal‘s half, yet there was some miscommunication with Gabriel, who instead tried to play a pass and it narrowly evaded Declan Rice and went to a Bayern player.

A fine pass was put into the path of Serge Gnabry, who slid the ball under Raya to score against his former club.

Arsenal were on the rocks, with old failings once again coming to the surface, and within 10 minutes Bayern Munich had a shock lead.

Leroy Sane ran through the entire Arsenal defense, all before he was brought down by William Saliba and Harry Kane dispatched the penalty with ease.

Arsenal left frustrated by refereeing

Mikel Arteta had to galvanize his team with Arsenal heading to Germany behind not an option. They set out their stall in the second-half to score goals and the equalizer would come from the bench.

Leandro Trossard was introduced off the bench alongside Gabriel Jesus and the pair combined for the equalizing goal.

Jesus received the ball inside the penalty area and sat a Bayern defender down easily with a clever touch, then he passed the ball into the path of the onrushing Trossard.

The Belgian coolly slid the ball beyond Manuel Neuer to make it 2-2.

Controversy came with the last play of the game when Saka had the ball inside the penalty area, cutting inside only to be sent to ground by an outstretched leg of Manuel Neuer.

The referee was unmoved and a penalty wasn’t given, although replays showed clear contact.