Arsenal fans in the Emirates era had occasionally experienced riveting, enjoyable, even enthralling home champions league victories against much vaunted oppositions – the famous 2-1 against a Barcelona side that is now considered one of the greatest teams ever in world football, last year’s wins against PSG in the group phase and Real at the QF – but just not consistently enough, nor frequently enough, to make those wins really count. The home and away wins against Real last season were supremely impressive in both their planning and execution, and even though their star-studded line-up were not quite functioning at the level of cohesion that is traditionally associated with Europe’s most successful club, the assertiveness and the energy of those Arsenal performances carried what are fast becoming the hallmarks of current Arsenal team. But even then those wins didn’t feel quite as epochal as the ruthlessly efficient overpowering of the Bavarian giants on this late November evening, with a performance that declared itself to be the promise of making evenings like these a norm, and not exceptions.
Arsenal and Bayern Munich arrived at ‘matchday five’ of the 2025-26 Champions Leagues as the two most in-form teams in Europe, not only occupying the top spots in their respective domestic leagues, but also looking down on the rest of the European clubs from those two positions. Their records this season until now have been very similar, in CL both having won all four of their previous games with an identical goal difference of 11, Bayern with a goals scored and conceded of 14-3, Arsenal with 11-0.
Without any disrespect to the Bundesliga – which I myself and I think many other neutrals like me enjoy watching as the football tends to be attractive, and officiating instructively consistent and unobtrusive – I think we can agree that, typically, Bayern face oppositions that present neither the jeopardy nor the exhaustive physical test that are the weekly norms of English domestic football. However, contrary to that pattern, while Arsenal’s comprehensive derby victory on Sunday was characterized by a control and composure that is rare for that particular match, Bayern had to come back from 0-2 down at home against mid-table Freiburg, and their eventual 6-2 win required them to raise their game.
Arsenal’s consistency, and a large squad constructed meticulously over the last few years, had helped us to absorb the loss of many key players over these first few months of the season. All the three designated central strikers were still out, though hopefully Gyökeres will return soon, with Jesús and Havertz towards the end of the year. The Ecuadorian captain Piero Hincapié, on his PL debut in the starting line-up in the weekend, didn’t let the team feel the absence of Gabriel. Mosquera, the Spanish youngster – who has been near flawless since he joined Arsenal in the summer – was named for that left-sided central defensive position, with Myles Lewis-Skelly replacing Calafiori. The left side of the defense were the only rotations from the derby day starting eleven. Madueke and Martinelli continued their return to the matchday squad as potent attacking options from the bench. Mikel and the Goonerverse welcomed back captain Ødegaard on the bench.
Raya
Timber-Saliba-Mosquera-MLS
Zubimendi
Eze-Rice
Saka-Merino-Trossard
Bayern was missing the attacking brilliance of Jamal Musiala and the defensive protection of Alphonso Davies, but they otherwise had their key players all available. Arsenal old boy Serge Gnabry was back on the flanks, Eze’s former teammate Michael Olise has been one of their most potent threats in recent weeks, and this is a breakthrough season for the teenage sensation Lennart Karl. The experienced spine of the team – Neuer, Upamecano, Kimmich and Kane – all started.
It was evident from the beginning that both teams held healthy respects for each other, and had a very clear tactical approach built around that appreciation. Bayern wanted to impose themselves early on the ball, and not have Arsenal carry over the momentum from their energizing derby win. Bayern in the CL this season has been consistently scoring early goals, and Arsenal wanted to ensure that the Bavarians did not find any way to do so in the first quarter or so of the game. It was not exactly cagey, but more like the opening sequences of a chess match – Bayern playing the strategically aggressive Vienna opening with white, Arsenal with the positionally defensive Caro-Kann defense with the black.
But that analogy only extends so far. Even though some football commentators – and the odd manager or two – like to describe the tactical battles through that prism, the tactical approach of football is more like the melodic theme of jazz, it is the cohesiveness in playing the melody and then the improvisations around it which make great performances stand out.
The cohesiveness in Arsenal performances was near flawless. Bayern might have dominated the possession in the opening 20 odd minutes, but Arsenal looked to be more threatening on the break. Arsenal’s intent was clear, not to overcommit in Bayern’s half, not to overplay in their own half, but to swiftly transition to exploit Bayern’s high line whenever possible.
Zubimendi, sensing the opportunity for an overload down the right, pushed ahead, and did well to earn a corner. Saka’s inswinging delivery was textbook perfect, and Timber executed his role with a complementary perfection. The dizzying repertoire of the well-orchestrated movements of our players on the set-pieces with nuanced variations is almost a sub-genre of footballing art in itself. Timber started closer to the goalkeeper, and while his position and pre-corner approach might have appeared to be that of a distraction whereas someone else was planning to head the ball, it was still Timber running in front to meet the ball in its flight. Neuer complained of something, Kompany was livid on the touchline. They had evidently prepared themselves for these corners.
Arsenal 1 (Timber 22’ ) – Bayern Munich 0
A few minutes later Eze, the North London derby hat-trick hero, almost made it 2-0 after a scintillating bit of (Bergkamp-esque, if I may say so) skill in bringing the ball down and then a swift one-two with Merino, he found himself in a position where one would expect him to test the goalkeeper. His shot (or was it meant as a disguised pass for Saka?) rolled past.
Bayern equalized soon after. Joshua Kimmich was given space and time on the ball – this is not a complaint, but Merino-Eze are not yet as proactive and aggressive in pressing as Gyökeres-Ødegaard – which more often than not turns out to be a mistake, as it was proven this time. Kimmich spotted Gnabry on the right wing making a run, and the accuracy and flight of his long pass stranded our defensive line, Gnabry’s cushioned first time touch found the teenager Karl who had run straight through the middle exploiting the space between Saliba and Mosquera. It was a brilliantly executed goal, and no defense can always be impenetrable, though I am sure Mikel and his coaching team will work with Mosquera and MLS about this goal.
Arsenal 1 (Timber 22’ ) – Bayern Munich 1 (Karl 32’)
Bayern sensed opportunity and created one more overload where our defense was found vulnerable, with the Germany-born, Croatian defender Stanišić choosing to shoot whereas a pass might have found us in greater danger of conceding.
Towards the end of the half Trossard – following a couple of challenges on him, he was unable to carry on; hopefully the injury was minor and he will recover in time for this weekend’s away match in the league – was replaced by Madueke.
Arsenal started the second half with a noticeably greater intensity than their opposition. There was a palpable conviction and a hunger to win – not just the match, but every duel, every key moment, every action. There were a few more set-pieces with couple of them requiring close range saves from Neuer, Saka’s rasping right footed shot from the side of the box was finger-tipped away by Neuer, and then the ubiquitous Declan Rice – my man of the match; his technical abilities have been steadily improving since he has joined us, and some of his passing and close controls were almost as eye-catching as his drive, energy, movement and sheer bloodymindedness – went on a driving run through the right side of the Bayern defense and his goal-bound left-footed shot was superbly saved by Neuer with his foot.
Mikel brought on some fresh legs. MLS – a gifted midfielder though he is with a great future, the left-back role can sometimes be overwhelming for him, especially when faced against such high quality dribblers as Olise or Karl – was replaced by Calafiori, and Saka by Martinelli with Madueke switching to the right.
The goal came soon after. Bayern tried to play through our press, Rice intercepted a pass, Calafiori made an out-to-in-to-out run around Bayern’s defensive line, Eze found him with a neat pass, and his precisely arced cross on the run needed a simple finish from Noni Madueke, who ran past the defense with ease. He was in sparkling form at the beginning of the season before the injury, though he hadn’t scored a goal at that time. A great way to open one’s scoring for the new club. The entire team joined in the celebrations. Rice-Eze-Calafiori-Madueke may have been the direct contributors to the goal, I felt it was earned by the entire team as the assertiveness, intensity and enterprise of the entire team created that moment.
Arsenal 2 (Timber 22’, Madueke 69’ ) – Bayern Munich 1 (Karl 32’)
There were some yellow cards in between the actions. Laimer and Upamecano for Bayern, Saliba and Merino for us. After our second goal, Kompany made a couple of substitutions, with Nicolas Jackson joining in the attack. Bayern’s defensive line went even higher, and they started to dominate possession again, though found it hard to get the ball past Arsenal’s organised, and by now congested defensive barrier.
They had decided to use Olise and his close control and dribbling on the right flank as the primary mode of attack. Arsenal defended both the space and the player, Martinelli intercepted a pass, forwarded the ball to Eze, and triggered a transitioning run.
There were some discussions over the summer break in certain parts of the Arsenal fanbase about Martinelli’s continued role in this side. But as most of us here in the ‘Holic site recognized, Gabi brings a truly unique combination of qualities and is such a potent threat in counter-attack that we should not even think about losing him. The third goal was a copyrighted Gabriel Marinelli goal: the tireless, aggressive defending, the quick release pass, sensing the opportunity, the sudden sprint right through the middle, the controlled first touch to bring the ball from Eze’s lovely lofted pass down and away from the onrushing Neuer, and then the calm finish.
Arsenal 3 (Timber 22’, Madueke 69’, Martinelli 77’ ) – Bayern Munich 1 (Karl 32’)
Mikel brought White and Ødegaard in for Timber and Eze with around ten minutes remaining on the clock. Martin had a couple of lovely touches and pressed in his typical front-footed fashion. By then Bayern had started to look disorganized and demoralized, and maybe even relieved once the match ended.
We are only in November, and as the results everywhere – in PL and in CL – continue to demonstrate, the high level of competitiveness and the very fine margins mean there is nothing guaranteed, even for a squad that is now as balanced and well-coached as Arsenal. At the same time, I think once this Arsenal team has won one major trophy, and has built that confidence and mastered that nous, they can become a dominant force in Europe at least for a while. Winning that first major trophy is the key, and if we are to achieve it at the end of the season, I think this performance against Bayern will count as one of the defining moments. There was a degree of assertiveness, balanced with a faultless discipline and a psychological intensity in this imperious victory that I think surprised even the most optimistic of the fanbase. If we were to achieve the goals that we have set out to achieve, I would always remember this match as the day when the team took a step from excellence to greatness. But, there is still a long way to go, and no matter what happens at the end of the season, this was still a privilege to experience.
Nice one, doc. I agree that’s a big win. Huge psychologically. Although it will gain even more weight if we back it up against Chelsea on Sunday.
For them as don’t know but wants to…
It is one of the best things about this blog that great Arsenal performances are described by reports that do them justice and this is a superb evocation of what was an extraordinarily high- level game. Bath and I watched if from the same vantage point and we moved in our opinion from ‘ we’ve got our work cut out here’ to ‘ we have seriously overpowered a European giant ’. I think this was probably Arteta’s best result in that he outcoached a top European coach and made incredibly effective changes from the bench. MLS was struggling as he has a little this season . Calafiori was a huge upgrade , he locked up our left flank and produced a perfect cross for Madueke .
It was an extraordinarily intense, high- quality game and showed us who can step up to the top table of European football . Last night everyone showed they could although MLS needs an infusion of confidence and experience .
I would award Rice and Timber 10s as they were quite magnificent and Zubi wasn’t far behind . This is a special time and it’s a special team . We hold our breath because there is so far to go but we are worthy and capable of high honours this season.
Many thanks Dr F for this fine and most enjoyable report to read. How many Arsenal title challenges have fallen by the wayside due to serial key injuries, combined with inadequate high quality squad depth? I don’t know the exact answer and would hate to attempt to count, but our squad depth this season is giving me a high degree of confidence that wave upon wave of injuries may just not thwart us this time, fingers crossed of course. Madueke and Martinelli scoring on this big occasion upon their respective return from injury is one such sign.
Another such sign are the performances of Hincapie and Mosquera the last two games in the place of injured Big Gabi. Everyone who’s contributing is gaining the confidence that they can continue in the same vein.
Thanks Dr F – nice report to write after a superb performance and result.
There was no bigger indicator that Bayern just couldn’t handle us last night than the performance of Neuer. Completely panic stricken leaping around, flapping with his arms and mad kicks in mid air towards a ball he was never getting near. Normally the rock behind their defence. Just fell apart last night.
I did feel for MLS last night. Up against a couple of very tricky wingers. I don’t see him as a full back long term though. His ball carrying and attacking play are much stronger than his defending and I think he’ll end up where he started in midfield.
Getting the balance between defending / marking / inverting is hard and I don’t think he has the experience to do it. Great lad, lovely player and needs to be able to play to his strengths.
Thanks Dr F, great report and quite agree there is a long way to go.
It was a great performance last night and there are a lot of games
still to play, however it is nice to see us sitting serenely at top of two
leagues,
A very entertaining and thoughtful summary of the game, Dr F. As you and others have commented, there is a very distinct ‘best in Europe’ aura associated with our current squad and its manager. Transforming that into the hard reality of silverware presents an exciting challenge and prospect for the remainder of this season and those beyond.
An excellent all-round performance in which Rice and Timber deserve call-outs for particularly excellent contributions and the newer arrivals merit a note for blending in seemlessly. I was delighted to see our captain re-emerge from the casualty ward also.
@5 – comments on MLS are spot on, Trev and I’d add that once beaten, his recovery speed doesn’t appear suited to a long term future as a full back.
Thanks everyone for the kind words!
GSD – thanks for sharing the Vienna v Caro-Kann video to clarify my reference. Exactly!
Lots of interesting, and revealing, little stats from yesterday’s match. This is the first time England’s greatest ever striker (if we were to believe what they say) didn’t have a single shot in any of his umpteen appearances against us. It’s so gratifying to see how the two understudies in Mosquera and Hincapié are stepping in competently whenever needed.
This was the 50th game in which Gabi Martinelli scored for us, and it was his 56th goal in Arsenal colors. Of these 50 games we won 41, drew 9. That’s extraordinary.
May I wish all our American Holics a very happy Thanksgiving. May you have a blessed family day and a restful one to boot
Ditto, what TTG said.
Nice match report, Atanu,
happy thanksgiving, all. we are off to big sur for a dining experience in the valley of the big sur river. i am blessed, no matter how infrequently i’ve been here the last year, to be a part of this place. i give thanks for you all daily.
great work per ttg above, dr faustus. i am still basking in yesterday’s glow, and this elucidates it perfectly.
Excellent, Dr. F. A defining moment, indeed.
Happy Thanksgiving to all on this side of the pond.
Thanks for a great match report Dr F – it was in line with the teams performance on the night. Maybe we have reached the promised land after a period of heartache – just keep it coming 🙏🏻
Wishing all our American chums a happy thanksgiving holiday.
Scuz, keep away from those Sea Lions!
Thanks Dr F for a report of a quality to match the game we saw. I think you have called this game correctly as a defining moment. Although, in thee first half, we simply went toe to toe with the team described by most pundits as the ‘top team in Europe’, in the second half we blew them away. I concur with the plaudits for Rice – the driving force in that victory – and for Timber – probably currently the best full back in Europe, if not the world, the praise for our stand-ins and the concern for MLS.
On to the bus stop. Vinceremo!
Thanks Doc for an interesting and entertaining report.
With players now returning from injury it will be interesting to see how MA accommodates all of them to keep them match ready and confident.
MLS is a case in point. Although not injured he has had little game time, lost his England place probably because of that and now a subsequent and apparent loss of confidence.
Let’s hope he gets it back soon.
UTA
If we had one more left-sided defender then I would suggest a January loan
for MLS would be beneficial for him and us as it would give him a chance to play regularly, and thus also a shot at a World Cup place.
Maybe it’s too risky as things stand though, and of course he has a lot more world
cups to come
We have worked hard to build up this fantastic squad and there are so many matches following in quick succession ( every three or four days into the New Year ) that everyone will have plenty of chance to play . In a vibrant, successful club you have competition for places and lads like Nwaneri, MLS and Benny Blanco will need to up their game to displace those in front of them . That’s a very healthy situation that Arteta will have encouraged to keep the level of performance and desire high . These boys are part of the strongest squad in Europe and if I were MLS I’d want to stay around rather than spend half a season at Everton or West Ham .
We have a lot of games where we can prudently rotate coming up starting with Brentford . Two of the three remaining Champions League ties are likely to see heavy rotation and we also have FA Cup and League Cup ties coming up which we need to prioritise. It would be nice to walk out at Wembley in the League Cup Final but we need to ensure we give priority to the really big targets – Cup success would be a lovely bonus . It’s worth noting that Palace who are in my top six Premier League sides are struggling to qualify from their Europa Conference group because they haven’t got the depth of squad or variety of options . They could win that competition and it will be interesting to see how they treat a Carabao quarter final at the home of the strongest team in Europe two days before Christmas
TTG@17: Your point about rotation is well made. I suspect Arteta thinks more in terms of rotation within, rather than between games. That is a way of getting a settled first XV/XVII used to playing together. When injury or suspension forces it, he then has plug-and-play replacements ready to be starters.
MLS presents an intriguing test for the coaching staff. He has had 25% more minutes this season than Nwaneri, but looks the more discombulated of the two youngsters by being in and out of the team. Yet MLS seems a grounded individual, with good club and family support, which will hopefully make him understand how exceptional last season was for him and thus how sharp the reversion to his development path has been. I agree that farming him out to a bottom half of the table club in January would not be in his best interest.
.
Personally I don’t get the concern about MLS supposed lack of minutes. He’s 18, not a left back and being kept out by an Italian national team regular. He just played against a Bayern team with some of the best rotational switching in Europe, against one of the best wingers in Europe. He was caught out marginally, which is enough, for their goal and one other time out of position. Tuchel is apparently getting in his ear but to be clear, Tuchel’s main concern is Tuchel. He will more likely than not be gone inside 2 years. MLS career on the other hand is all ahead of him. It is more important that MOS, and Nwaneri for that matter, learn their trade and develop physiologically, personally as well as from a playing perspective than that they start lots of minutes. The careers of Fabregas and Wilshere were blighted by overplaying at that age. Compare and contrast with Foden. Nwaneri played more minutes last season than Foden did at the same age. Guardiola protected him as he understands what is needed to win at the highest level. Now Foden is developing into a City regular and a top premiership player. In four years time we may need a replacement for Odegaard. That could be Nwaneri. We may need a replacement for Zubimendi. That may be MLS. They will have developed and learned in a controlled way. They will still be young. Guardiola faced the same media attacks. These people are only concerned with creating easy copy. Guardiola had to manage a burgeoning star and did it well. I’d rather we continued to take that route.
CER@19: Exactly! Couldn’t have said it better. Nwaneri and MLS have extraordinary opportunities to grow in a team with so much quality, such a high level of coaching and with such attention to tactical details. They are teenagers, and obviously very gifted, but asking them to deliver the kind of performances we now demand week-in week-out will not be helpful.
MLS eventually may start rotating with Rice, that box-to-box role seems most natural to him and Declan is a human being, we cannot expect him to do what he does every three days every season. Ethan is evidently Martin’s understudy, and in domestic cups I see him taking that spot on a regular basis.
No need to hurry or overwork them.
Lots of good sense CER @19. I agree entirely. What we know is that both boys come from sensible families and have Arsenal in their blood . For MLS the World Cup is an issue but at 18 he must know he’s in a competition for a spot at LB.
Tuchel might aggravate the situation but as you say he may not be there forever . The big imponderable is how he gets advised by his agent . A good agent must contend with his formidable and very sensible Mum but he needs to have the boy’s best interests at heart above anything else . Amazingly not all agents do but it may be that his Mum is his agent at present .
The recent example of ESR is salutary . He was incredibly impressive in his early games , got into the England team and hit a wall, partly because of his injury problems
I was with some Fulham supporters too today (it was a school reunion I have not gone off the rails ) and they are not of the feeling that he is going to be a success there. They rate Iwobi more . ESR would not have been able to stay with us and it shows how tough it is to break through to regular PL football…..anywhere
cer@19, totally agree with that top, top post.
ttg@21, yes marcia lewis-skelly is myles’ agent. she has started a company to help parents of young footballers navigate the contract and club structure as their kids rise through the ranks (called something like “number one fan”). she is also a registered agent with FIFA.
CER@19: If I gave the impression I was concerned about MLS’s minutes, that’s on me, as it wasn’t my intention. Everything you say about steady development for youngsters and avoiding long-term career-impeding injuries as they learn their trade is spot on. I was more trying to make a point that Nwaneri seems to have adapted better to the process than Myles, at least as far as one can tell from the outside, a far from perfect vantage point, admittedly. Learning from disappointment is part of learning the trade. Arteta has given hints that he watches to see how young players handle that. Yet, I have a sense there is a balance to be struck with MLS about letting the lesson sink in, but not letting it become confidence-sapping that isn’t needed for Nwaneri. To TTG’s point @21, I’m sure his Mum will keep his feet on the ground and not let him make any silly choices.
No, that wasn’t aimed at you, Ned. There has been a lot of media blather, and it was aimed at those purveyors of self righteous nonsense.
CER @19, I’m with you 100% on the development of our young players. Any who kick up about not getting the amount of first team game-time they think they deserve will almost certainly be allowed to leave the club permanently. Arteta will brook no disruptive elements no matter their talent, potential or profile. I hope that our talented youngsters on the fringe of the first team have the vision and moreover the patience to await their opportunities (and take them) to gradually take over their first team roles. It’s a marathon not a sprint.
MLS is a standout player, and amongst his many fine qualities his attitude and mindset are exceptional, even at this level. That kid is special. He’s also got great people around him. So I’m not remotely worried about him. He’ll learn from tough games, he’ll revel in the challenge of earning a place, and he’ll know he is in the best possible place to fulfil his potential, even if that process isnt a straight line sprint to the top. He sees Declan Rice everyday, and knows the best midfielder in the world has improved hugely since he came to the club. He hears how Rice talks about Arteta, who Rice credits with that shift. And every other player is the same.
Mikel Arteta is the best manager for MLS (also the best manager full stop, in my opinion). He’ll bring him through so he arrives at the highest level and contributes to this club for years.
Altogether, I think everything is in place for him to shine, and all we need is patience and trust. Fortunately, MLS and Arteta have both.
Same as Ned @23.
I’m only worried about MLS in as far as not playing might affect his confidence and the whole England thing could be a bit discouraging for him. However, I doubt he was targeting next year’s World Cup anyway and I’m sure the club, MLS and his very sound family have his future well planned.
Trev@27: 👍
Leeds back to 2-2 from 2-0 at the home c130y.
I like seeing Pep’s worried frowny face, it’s much
better than the happy, smiley one
Very amusing how rubbish other team’s defences are. Leeds could win this.
Yeah, Leeds were actually looking for the win but
now that annoying little bastard Foden has made it 3-2
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