Arsenal maintained their flawless Champions League campaign on Wednesday night, defeating Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich 3–1 at the Emirates Stadium to claim first place in the league-phase standings.
The Premier League leaders delivered a commanding second-half performance, with substitutes Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli scoring decisive goals after the visitors had briefly pulled level.
The match, initially cagey and tactical, burst into life midway through the first half. Arsenal took the lead in the 22nd minute when Jurrien Timber met a Bukayo Saka corner with a powerful header.
Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, stretching desperately, failed to make contact as Timber’s effort flew past him.
The goal continued Arsenal’s impressive run of scoring from set pieces this season.
Eberechi Eze, fresh off a hat-trick in the North London derby, nearly doubled Arsenal’s lead minutes later but miscued his shot from close range.
Against the run of play, Bayern responded swiftly. Joshua Kimmich sparked the move with a precise diagonal pass, which former Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry cushioned into the path of 17-year-old Lennart Karl.
The teenager finished confidently, beating goalkeeper David Raya to bring the German champions level in the 32nd minute.
The equaliser briefly unsettled the home side, but Arsenal regained control as the teams headed into the break.
The Gunners emerged for the second half with renewed urgency. Neuer was forced into a series of saves, including a sharp stop from Saka’s rising strike and another close-range block denying Cristhian Mosquera.
Bayern offered flickers of threat through Karl, who darted into the Arsenal box early in the half but ended his run with a weak shot comfortably gathered by Raya.
However, the momentum increasingly tilted towards Arsenal as their pressure mounted.
With 20 minutes remaining, Bayern’s defence faltered. A loose pass from Dayot Upamecano was intercepted by Riccardo Calafiori, who immediately curled in a low cross. Madueke reacted quickest, sliding the ball past Neuer to make it 2–1.
The goal electrified the home supporters and left Bayern struggling to regain composure.
Bayern’s night worsened in the closing stages after a long ball from Eze exposed Neuer high off his line.
Martinelli’s first touch took him beyond the stranded goalkeeper, leaving the Brazilian forward with an empty net.
He calmly rolled in Arsenal’s third, sealing the victory and sending the Emirates into delirium.
Home fans could not resist mocking Bayern striker Harry Kane, formerly of Tottenham Hotspur, chanting: “Harry, Harry, what’s the score?”
Despite the defeat, both Arsenal and Bayern remain well-positioned to finish inside the top eight of the new 32-team league phase, which guarantees direct progression to the Champions League round of 16.
Arsenal, however, depart the night with maximum points from all five matches — and a growing reputation as one of Europe’s most in-form sides.
