Arsenal Fans Relieved After Salvaging Draw vs. Bayern Munich in UCL QF 1st Leg | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
The 2024 UEFA Champions League quarterfinals matchup between Arsenal and Bayern Munich will all come down to the second leg.
The two sides played to a 2-2 draw in Tuesday's first leg at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, meaning Bayern Munich will have the opportunity to advance with a home victory.
Bukayo Saka scored the opening goal for the Gunners, but Serge Gnabry and Harry Kane answered to put the visitors ahead. Just when it looked like Bayern Munich would steal a road win, Leandro Trossard scored the final goal on a chance created by Gabriel Jesus to salvage a draw.
There was no shortage of reaction from social media, including some relief from Arsenal fans that their side emerged with a draw:
CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ @CBSSportsGolazoLeandro Trossard sends North London into a frenzy!<br><br>An instant classic at the Emirates 🔥 <a href="">
Sash ~ @ltarsenalThis is not a bad result at all. We got rightfully punished for our silly moments but also did well in spells. Bayern unlucky to hit the post in the end. Arsenal unlucky not to have a penalty. All to play for and the boys can be proud for digging in after 2-1 down. Onwards.
Gingers for Limpar @Gingers4LimparDrama & controversy aside - I'll take it. We weren't composed tonight; regroup and go into the second leg level, could be much worse.
Irving Franco @IrvingFrandotcoConfident going into the next game. Gabriel and Saliba can't be worse than today can they?! All the subs were great except partey. We move
YankeeGunner @YankeeGunnerI'm not sure what people expected but we were never gonna have it all our own way against Bayern in the CL QF. We did well and I'm very sure we have enough for them in Munich. We'll see
YankeeGunner @YankeeGunnerA very high level game of football where our moments of huge quality were cancelled out by our moments of disappointing errors. I still back us to progress.
Gooner Chris @ArsenalN7100% faith in this football team ❤️ <a href="">
Master @MasterTesGabriel Jesus I love you
Zito @_ZeetsGabriel Jesus might not score too many goals but that man is so good at creating chances in tight spaces
Sash ~ @ltarsenalI want to give big credit to Gabriel Jesus today. Thought he changed the game for us and played without any fear. Superb from him.
Arsenal was the side that entered Tuesday's match in better form.
The Gunners are atop the Premier League table and in a fierce battle with Liverpool and Manchester City. They were also coming off consecutive wins against Luton Town and
Brighton & Hove Albion following a scoreless draw with Manchester City.
Bayern Munich, on the other hand, is well behind Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga table and dropped their previous two matches. Still the Champions League was a fresh slate for Kane's side even if this matchup meant the Arsenal fans consistently jeered the former star for rival Tottenham.
Those jeers quickly turned into cheers with a fast start, as Saka opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a beautiful left-footed strike that curled into the bottom corner of the net off a perfectly placed assist from Ben White. Throw in Alphonso Davies' early yellow card, which leaves him suspended for the second leg, and Arsenal couldn't have asked for a better start.
CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ @CBSSportsGolazoSTARBOY SIGHTING AT THE EMIRATES! 🤩<br><br>Bukayo Saka with a delicious curler for Arsenal ⚽️ <a href="">
However, an ugly turnover from the home side ended that momentum. Leon Goretzka took full advantage with a through ball to Gnabry, who buried the equalizer against his former club in the 18th minute.
As if that wasn't bad enough for the Arsenal supporters, Kane capitalized on a penalty kick to put the visitors in the lead in the 32nd minute.
CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ @CBSSportsGolazoSERGE GNABRY RETURNS TO HAUNT HIS FORMER CLUB!<br><br>Bayern strike back in a flash ⚡️ <a href="">
B/R Football @brfootballHaunting his former club 😈 <a href="">
CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ @CBSSportsGolazoLeroy Sane makes it happen, but Harry Kane makes them pay 😤<br><br>Arsenal's familiar foe makes no mistake from 12 yards out ✅ <a href="">
While the explosive start stalled into a stagnant back and forth for much of the second half with Bayern Munich committing additional defenders to the back end, Arsenal finally found some magic when Jesus knifed his way through multiple defenders and set up Trossard for the equalizer in the 76th minute.
The frustrated crowd came to life with the goal, but Arsenal was unable to capitalize on the additional energy down the stretch despite a controversial ending that almost saw a penalty on Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Bayern Munich also almost scored when Kingsley Coman hit the post in stoppage time, but the final whistle blew with the score still tied.
The two sides will have to decide it at Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena on Wednesday, April 17, in the second leg.
