Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich Player Ratings – Madueke Ignites, Martinelli Punishes Bavarians! | OneFootball

If this was billed as a Champions League yardstick, Arsenal used it to measure how far ahead they’ve sprinted. Bayern Munich came to north London unbeaten, unfazed, and unfussed – and left diced apart by a squad that now looks frighteningly deep, relentlessly intense, and ruthlessly efficient.

This was not the Arsenal of old, nervous under floodlights and haunted by German ghosts. This was a side playing with a swagger that suggested they’ve stopped fearing the heavyweight clubs and started viewing them as sparring partners.

Jurrien Timber set the tone with a thumping header from a Bukayo Saka corner. Bayern equalised with one of those classic, irritating “blink and you’re punished” moves – Serge Gnabry’s clever work setting up teenage sensation Lennart Karl. But Arsenal’s response? Calm. Mature. Clinical. First Noni Madueke, then Gabriel Martinelli – with Manuel Neuer starring in an unintentionally comedic cameo – wrapped up the night.

With each passing week, Arsenal look more like a side ready to walk deep into Europe’s sharpest corridors. They outplayed, outran, and out-thought Bayern Munich.

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ARSENAL PLAYER RATINGS

David Raya – 6/10

Barely needed. Touches the ball less often than some stewards. Did his job, stayed alert, and claimed crosses cleanly.

Jurrien Timber – 8.5/10

Bullet header, composed positioning, and the swagger of a centre-half who thinks he’s a playmaker. Bayern tried to test him with Gnabry drifting over – Timber didn’t blink. Terrific again.

William Saliba – 6.5/10

Survived the rare “ball hits teammate, ricochets towards goal” moment with all the serenity of a man who simply refuses embarrassment. Marked Harry Kane like he owed him money.

Cristhian Mosquera – 7/10

Another who kept Kane in his pocket. Strong in duels, quick across the ground, mentally switched on. Bayern attackers tried their luck and got nothing.

Myles Lewis-Skelly – 4.5/10

Bless him. This was a Champions League learning curve painted in bright neon. Targeted repeatedly, caught positionally for Bayern’s equaliser, and understandably withdrawn. The future is bright – but tonight wasn’t his.

Martin Zubimendi – 7.5/10

Calm, tidy, disciplined. The sort of midfielder who won’t trend on social media yet quietly underpins an entire match. Did just that.

Declan Rice – 8/10

Juggernaut. Roared through Bayern’s midfield multiple times and delivered a masterclass on set pieces. On another day he has two assists.

Eberechi Eze – 7/10

Technically contributed to Martinelli’s goal with the long ball – but really, it was Neuer’s contribution. Still, Eze looked comfortable and creative on the biggest stage.

Bukayo Saka – 6.5/10

Corner for the opener, created a few sharp openings, generally looked like himself – just missing that ruthless burst. Maybe still rediscovering full sharpness.

Mikel Merino – 5.5/10

Led the line intelligently but missed two headers he’ll replay in his head tonight. Still contributed to buildup play and held the ball well.

Leandro Trossard – 4/10

Had a sitter early on and managed to slice it with all the composure of someone playing in trainers. Came off injured before he could redeem himself.

SUBS

Noni Madueke – 9/10

Direct, lively, brave – and a goal that swung the match. His willingness to attack defenders changed the entire tempo. A hugely convincing cameo.

Gabriel Martinelli – 7.5/10

Neuer owes him a thank-you card for not embarrassing him further. Ran half the pitch, took the gamble, punished the chaos. Electric off the bench.

Riccardo Calafiori – 7.5/10

Perfect impact sub. Fired in the cross for Madueke’s goal moments after coming on. Huge game influence.

Ben White – N/A

Late cameo.

Martin Ødegaard – N/A

More about easing him back than impacting the game.

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BAYERN MUNICH PLAYER RATINGS

Manuel Neuer – 4.5/10

Great moustache. Less great everything else. Brilliant reaction saves but caught in decision-making limbo for the opener and turned into a sweeper-keeper meme for Martinelli’s goal. A strange, uneven night.

Josip Stanišić – 4/10

Looked okay in glimpses but lost control of his flank as Arsenal ramped up. A busy but unconvincing performance.

Jonathan Tah – 5.5/10

Played safe, maybe too safe. Struggled to command Bayern’s back line and was bullied on set pieces.

Dayot Upamecano – 4/10

Pressed into mistakes, rattled early, and punished late. His stray pass sparked Arsenal’s second; they never looked comfortable. A rough night.

Konrad Laimer – 4.5/10

Looked like a midfielder forced into cosplay as a left-back. Effort wasn’t the issue – positional chaos was.

Joshua Kimmich – 5.5/10

Lovely long ball for the equaliser. Tried to keep Bayern ticking but had too many fires to put out. One of their only reliable performers.

Aleksandar Pavlović – 4/10

Struggled against Arsenal’s intensity. Couldn’t dictate tempo and never found rhythm.

Michael Olise – 4/10

Completely smothered. Arsenal treated him like a special project: you do not turn, you do not breathe, and you do not dribble. Anonymous.

Lennart Karl – 6.5/10

The one bright spark. Excellent movement and a brilliant finish. His composure belied his age.

Serge Gnabry – 5/10

Nice assist for Karl, then drifted out of the game. Bayern needed more from him in the second half.

Harry Kane – 4/10

Marked out of existence. Barely touched the ball in dangerous areas. Saliba and Mosquera made him look mortal – and that takes work.

SUBS

Nicolas Jackson – 5/10

Tom Bischof – 4/10

Minjae Kim – N/A

Leon Goretzka – N/A

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MAN OF THE MATCH – NONI MADUEKE

Timber scored, Martinelli dazzled, and Rice dominated – but Madueke flipped the momentum of the entire evening. Direct, decisive, and fearless.

CONCLUSION – ARSENAL’S DEPTH LOOKS TERRIFYING, BAYERN LOOK MORTAL

Arsenal didn’t just beat Bayern – they out-muscled, out-ran, and out-thought them. Five wins from five, goals coming from everywhere, substitutes deciding games… this is what a Champions League contender looks like.

Bayern, meanwhile, suddenly feel less inevitable and more vulnerable. Their back line wobbling, midfield overwhelmed, attack misfiring – these aren’t one-off concerns.

Arsenal march forward with momentum pouring out of their boots.

Bayern limp away with bruised pride and bigger questions.