Arsenal had waited seven years to prove they could meet Bayern Munich as equals and, after a riveting night’s work that leaves this quarter-final tantalisingly poised, they made their point. This second-half salvage job was all the more impressive given they had squandered an early lead and, for a time, summoned visions of the 5-1 routs inflicted in their last three meetings.
Serge Gnabry and a Harry Kane penalty had overturned Bukayo Saka’s strike but Mikel Arteta’s players showed guts to avoid any repeat against previously off-form opponents who had turned up resoundingly. They were rewarded when the substitute Leandro Trossard, with a marvellous piece of execution, equalised 14 minutes from time. For the next week at least, it answered those pondering which iteration of Bayern would arrive for this tie.
