{"id":12322,"date":"2025-11-27T10:45:18","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T10:45:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=12322"},"modified":"2025-11-29T22:36:59","modified_gmt":"2025-11-29T22:36:59","slug":"a-defining-moment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=12322","title":{"rendered":"A Defining Moment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Arsenal fans in the Emirates era had occasionally experienced riveting, enjoyable, even enthralling home champions league victories against much vaunted oppositions \u2013 the famous 2-1 against a Barcelona side that is now considered one of the greatest teams ever in world football, last year\u2019s wins against PSG in the group phase and Real at the QF \u2013 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\u2019s 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\u2019t 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arsenal and Bayern Munich arrived at \u2018matchday five\u2019 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without any disrespect to the Bundesliga \u2013 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 \u2013 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\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arsenal\u2019s 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 Gy\u00f6keres will return soon, with Jes\u00fas and Havertz towards the end of the year. The Ecuadorian captain Piero Hincapi\u00e9, on his PL debut in the starting line-up in the weekend, didn\u2019t let the team feel the absence of Gabriel. Mosquera, the Spanish youngster \u2013 who has been near flawless since he joined Arsenal in the summer \u2013 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 \u00d8degaard on the bench. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raya<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Timber-Saliba-Mosquera-MLS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zubimendi <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eze-Rice<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saka-Merino-Trossard<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s 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 \u2013 Neuer, Upamecano, Kimmich and Kane \u2013 all started. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2013 Bayern playing the strategically aggressive Vienna opening with white, Arsenal with the positionally defensive Caro-Kann defense with the black. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that analogy only extends so far. Even though some football commentators \u2013 and the odd manager or two \u2013 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s intent was clear, not to overcommit in Bayern\u2019s half, not to overplay in their own half, but to swiftly transition to exploit Bayern\u2019s high line whenever possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zubimendi, sensing the opportunity for an overload down the right, pushed ahead, and did well to earn a corner. Saka\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arsenal 1 (Timber 22\u2019 ) \u2013 Bayern Munich 0<\/strong>                <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bayern equalized soon after. Joshua Kimmich was given space and time on the ball \u2013 this is not a complaint, but Merino-Eze are not yet as proactive and aggressive in pressing as Gy\u00f6keres-\u00d8degaard \u2013 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\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Arsenal 1 (Timber 22\u2019 ) \u2013 Bayern Munich 1 (Karl 32\u2019) <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bayern sensed opportunity and created one more overload where our defense was found vulnerable, with the Germany-born, Croatian defender Stani\u0161i\u0107 choosing to shoot whereas a pass might have found us in greater danger of conceding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Towards the end of the half Trossard \u2013 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\u2019s away match in the league \u2013 was replaced by Madueke.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arsenal started the second half with a noticeably greater intensity than their opposition. There was a palpable conviction and a hunger to win \u2013 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\u2019s rasping right footed shot from the side of the box was finger-tipped away by Neuer, and then the ubiquitous Declan Rice \u2013 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 \u2013 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mikel brought on some fresh legs. MLS \u2013 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 \u2013 was replaced by Calafiori, and Saka by Martinelli with Madueke switching to the right. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s 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\u2019t scored a goal at that time. A great way to open one\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arsenal 2 (Timber 22\u2019, Madueke 69\u2019 ) \u2013 Bayern Munich 1 (Karl 32\u2019) <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s defensive line went even higher, and they started to dominate possession again, though found it hard to get the ball past Arsenal\u2019s organised, and by now congested defensive barrier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were some discussions over the summer break in certain parts of the Arsenal fanbase about Martinelli\u2019s continued role in this side. But as most of us here in the \u2018Holic 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\u2019s lovely lofted pass down and away from the onrushing Neuer, and then the calm finish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arsenal 3 (Timber 22\u2019, Madueke 69\u2019, Martinelli 77\u2019 ) \u2013 Bayern Munich 1 (Karl 32\u2019) <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mikel brought White and \u00d8degaard 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are only in November, and as the results everywhere \u2013 in PL and in CL \u2013 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.    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Arsenal fans in the Emirates era had occasionally experienced riveting, enjoyable, even enthralling home champions league victories against much vaunted oppositions \u2013 the famous 2-1 against a Barcelona side that is now considered one of the greatest teams ever in world football, last year\u2019s wins against PSG in the group phase and Real at the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12322"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12322"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12322\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12337,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12322\/revisions\/12337"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12322"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12322"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12322"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}