It was a positive start from a Bayern side in blistering form, but Arsenal played to their strengths and opened the scoring on 22 minutes. It came from yet another set piece, as Bukayo Saka floated in a corner to be met by Jurriën Timber, who nodded over a flailing Manuel Neuer and into the net.
Having gone behind and subsequently avoided defeat in each of their last two matches, the German side were unfazed and responded perfectly 10 minutes later. Joshua Kimmich’s arrowed pass was volleyed calmly by Serge Gnabry into the path of Lennart Karl, who fired past David Raya to make it two in as many UCL starts.
There easily could have been another for either side as an entertaining first half came to a close, but the flow of chances began to turn in the hosts' favour after the restart.
Mikel Merino glanced a whisker wide from the centre of the area, before Cristhian Mosquera’s header was somehow kept out by Neuer from point-blank range. Saka was then just a backstep away from turning in on the rebound after Neuer toed away Rice’s effort, but all those chances were just a preamble to what came next.
Just moments after coming on, Riccardo Calafiori sailed down the left and took it off Eberechi Eze on the overlap, before whipping a perfect cross onto the foot of Noni Madueke, who fired into the net first time. The visitors predictably thundered forward in response, only to be opened up on the counter by the rapid Gabriel Martinelli, who confidently rounded the outrushing Neuer and passed into the empty net.
Any hopes of Bayern preserving their unbeaten record were quashed by that goal, and Mikel Arteta’s side saw out a famous win. Arsenal’s fantastic 16-match unbeaten run in all competitions continues, and the result is a massive statement of intent that they can lift European football’s most coveted prize for the first time.
Vincent Kompany’s side finally caved to the easily best side they have so far faced this campaign, but won’t be too disappointed given that this is just their first defeat in 22 competitive away outings.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Jurrien Timber (Arsenal)