Arsenal and Bayern Munich traded blows in a pulsating 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium to leave their Champions League quarter-final finely poised ahead of next week’s second leg.
Bukayo Saka gave Mikel Arteta’s side an early lead with a superb, curling finish but Bayern capitalised on poor defending to equalise against the run of play through former Gunner Serge Gnabry soon afterwards.
Former Tottenham striker Harry Kane then coolly dispatched a penalty for his 15th goal in 20 games against Arsenal after Leroy Sane was felled by William Saliba, but the hosts found a leveller through Leandro Trossard when he swept home a pass from fellow substitute Gabriel Jesus in the second half.
Arsenal had most of the possession but six-time winners Bayern were a constant threat on the break, with Kingsley Coman slamming a close-range shot against the post in the 90th minute before Saka had a penalty appeal controversially turned down in stoppage time.
Bayern, without any fans at the Emirates Stadium due to a UEFA ban, will welcome Arsenal to the Allianz Arena for the second leg on Wednesday next week with the tie in the balance.
How Trossard hit back in thrilling draw
With Bayern fans banned from attending by UEFA after throwing fireworks on the pitch in their last-16 tie against Lazio, Arsenal sought to capitalise on the intensely partisan atmosphere early on.
Bukayo Saka gave Arsenal an early lead at the Emirates Stadium
Gabriel Martinelli, starting in place of Jesus, had their first chance, sending a diagonal shot wide of Manuel Neuer’s left-hand post, but the breakthrough came from the opposite flank.
White was the provider, feeding Saka inside the box with a diagonal pass, and the 22-year-old did the rest, curling a wonderful finish into the far corner, out of reach of the full-stretch Neuer.
At that point, having also had Alphonso booked for an early foul on Saka, ruling him out of the second leg through suspension, it seemed it may be a long night for the visitors.
Arsenal had a golden chance to double their lead when Ben White shot straight at Neuer having been put through on goal by Kai Havertz on the right, but Bayern were level within two minutes of that miss.
Serge Gnabry equalised against his former club
It came from an innocuous long pass. David Raya came running out of his goal to claim it near the halfway line but instead the ball was collected by Gabriel Magalhaes who, seeing his goalkeeper out of position, turned and tried to find left-back Jakub Kiwior ahead of him instead.
Unfortunately for Arsenal, his pass was inaccurate, with Kiwior unable to collect it and Sane pouncing. The winger fed the onrushing Leon Goretzka, whose through-ball was clinically dispatched by former Gunner Gnabry, silencing the 60,000 Arsenal fans in attendance.
Arsenal tried to conjure up an instant response, almost forcing the ball over the line following a corner, but more defensive sloppiness allowed Bayern to win their penalty.
Sane was again heavily involved, pinning Kiwior and spinning away from him too easily before embarking on an electrifying run into the Arsenal box, skipping away from Jorginho and Gabriel before drawing the foul from Saliba.
Harry Kane put Bayern ahead on his return to north London
Kane took his time over the spot-kick, delaying his run-up and seeing Raya dive to his right before stroking the ball in to his left, the goal continuing his outstanding scoring record against Arsenal.
Bayern continued to threaten on the counter and might have had a third goal, through Sane, if not for a heroic recovery run and tackle by White after the winger had sprinted through on goal.
Arsenal, so impressive defensively in recent months, looked sloppy and uncertain in the face of Bayern’s pace and power in transition and struggled to create openings either side of half-time.
It took two substitutes to change things, with Jesus showing quick feet inside the box to tee up Trossard for a sweeping, first-time finish to lift the roof off the Emirates Stadium.
Saka was denied a last-minute penalty
The game continued to ebb and flow after that, with Arsenal relieved to see Coman’s close-range effort from Jamal Musiala’s centre come back off the post.
There was still time for more drama in stoppage time, however, with Arsenal incensed not to be awarded a penalty when Saka appeared to be felled by Neuer, with referee Glenn Nyberg deeming the winger to have initiated the contact, ensuring the game ended in a draw, the tie finely poised.
What’s next?
Arsenal host Aston Villa live on Sky Sports Premier League from 4pm on Sunday, kick-off 4.30pm. They then travel to Germany for the second leg of their quarter-final on April 17, kick-off 8pm.
Sunday 14th April 4:00pm
Kick off 4:30pm
Bayern Munich are at home to Cologne in the Bundesliga on Saturday live on the Sky Sports app, kick-off 2.30pm.