🔗 Share this article The Gunners Let Slip 2-0 Lead in European Loss to German Giants Arsenal needed a impressive display and positive outcome against a European powerhouse, but the team relinquished their 2-0 advantage and all three points to Bayern Munich far too easily, plunging their European campaign into tricky waters. Different Outcomes from Last Season In the previous campaign, a battling comeback from a goal behind to a 3-2 victory over Bayern in their final group game avenged their heavy defeat to the Bavarian side and ignited their remarkable journey to the final. It marked a turning point in their season, showing a mental toughness that propelled them to a second Champions League title. Their breakdown here showed they are still searching for the fighting spirit that led to victory in May. Fan Support in Munich Over four hundred Arsenal fans had traveled to Munich, many filing into the city's famous beer hall before the game for their pre-match meet-up. They were shoved into a section of the middle tier at the Allianz Arena, but still made their voices heard, battling against the impressive home crowd of over 15,000 that made their presence felt in the lower tier. Learning from Previous Performance Daphne van Domselaar had said her team had "given their all" in their hard-fought tie with Chelsea on Saturday. They were "devastated" by the result against the WSL champions, with questionable refereeing decisions receiving much criticism of those frustrations. The aim, though, was to channel the momentum of that strong performance after halftime to Germany with them. Arsenal had started slowly against Chelsea. In Munich they stuck to the plan and there was no repeat of that slow start. Strong Start for Visitors They started aggressively. Beth Mead was especially lively and created difficulties for the Bayern defender Franziska Kett and the central player Momoko Tanikawa on the right as Arsenal's intense pressure reaped its rewards. It was the forward's attempt that ensured Arsenal took the lead in the fifth minute, the England forward's shot strangely pushed away by the Bayern goalkeeper, Maria Luisa Grohs. The midfielder was there to nod the ball back over the keeper and in. Doubling the Lead Arsenal's next score arrived midway through the half. Bayern's insistence on building from defense had been dangerous and was capitalized on. The winger intercepted Stine Ballisager's stray pass and laid off to the Swedish striker, who directed it towards the Spanish midfielder on the edge of the box. The talented playmaker took a touch to create space from the defender before driving past the goalkeeper. After Break Turnaround The energy dropped a little in the second half. José Barcala turned to his bench to try to get his team back into the game: the former Chelsea forward Pernille Harder, whose three goals in October 2024 took the game from 2-2 to 5-2, came on and Arianna Caruso and Alara Sehitler arrived soon after. The last of these would cause problems first, flying away on the break and receiving from Klara Bühl before directing the ball past Van Domselaar. Complete Comeback It was Bayern in the driving seat after the gap narrowed, the hosts sensing they could get a result from the game. The substitute delivered, clipping a looping ball in from the edge of the area to level. They did not just want to draw, though: they wanted it all, and shortly after they had the advantage, Icelandic defender turning in at the near post from Bühl's cross. This time it was a poor finish that disappointed Arsenal and, with one win from three Champions League games, they have a big job ahead.