First setback of the season: Bayern suffer historic defeat against Arsenal | OneFootball

FC Bayern lost a game for the first time in 18 competitive matches – and that in the Champions League top match at Arsenal FC of all places. The 1:3 at the Emirates Stadium was an evening of contradictions: a lot of possession, clear dominance in duels, almost 200 more successful passes. And yet the record champions ended up empty-handed because Arsenal won the moments that decided the game.

The bare figures initially read like a Munich evening: over 60 per cent possession, 59 per cent of tackles won, structurally more mature in the build-up, calmer on the ball. But all that fizzled out as soon as the Londoners unpacked their merciless determination. And that was perhaps the decisive difference.

According to SofaScore, Arsenal created seven big chances – a figure that Bayern have not achieved in over 400 games in all competitions. By comparison, the last time Real Madrid managed that was in the infamous quarter-final second leg in 2017, when Cristiano Ronaldo scored three times and Marcelo capped it off. FC Bayern, on the other hand, created just one big chance.

The fact that a similar figure has now reappeared speaks volumes about the power that Arsenal developed in Bayern’s penalty area – especially from set-pieces, throw-ins and second balls. Mikel Arteta’s team played uncompromisingly for every situation that could arise from resting balls. And Munich found no answer to that on this evening.

The offense remains pale – Kane without a finish

At the same time, the strongest attack in the Champions League to date remained astonishingly harmless. Only two shots even found their way onto the Gunners‘ goal. Too few to win a game of this magnitude.

Harry Kane’s performance was also surprising. Before the game, his outstanding Arsenal record was emphasised – 15 goals at the Emirates Stadium, record figures in London derbies. But this time, the Englishman failed to score at all. For the first time ever, he failed to score in a game against Arsenal. A symbol for the entire FCB evening.

This evening also had historic significance for the Gunners. They beat FC Bayern in a competitive match for the first time in over ten years. The last time they managed that was on 20 October 2015, back then still under Arsène Wenger and against a Guardiola team with world-class players in every line. Mesut Özil scored to make it 2-0 back then – an eternity ago.

A warning shot at the right time

For Bayern, the 1:3 is not a structural collapse, but a wake-up call. Vincent Kompany’s team controlled a lot, but lost the decisive zones. Standards, second balls, transitional moments – that’s exactly where Arsenal made the difference.

What remains: the first defeat of the season, an evening full of lessons learned and the chance to react immediately. The numbers from the game clearly showed where the adjustments need to be made – and why the Champions League is decided by the details.