Arsenal remain the only side with a perfect Champions League record this season after a commanding 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich on Wednesday night.
The Gunners made it five wins from five, preserving their flawless start while simultaneously ending Bayern’s own unbeaten streak.
Jurrien Timber struck in the first half, before substitutes Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli sealed the result after the break.
Arsenal struck first midway through the opening half. Bayern’s long-standing vulnerability at set pieces, highlighted extensively before kick-off, proved costly again.
Bukayo Saka’s corner found Timber darting in front of Manuel Neuer, and the defender’s precise header put the hosts in control.
Eberechi Eze soon had a golden chance to double the advantage after exchanging passes with Mikel Merino, only for Joshua Kimmich to race back and produce a stunning recovery tackle.
Moments later, Bayern punished that miss. Kimmich lifted a delightful ball over Myles Lewis-Skelly, allowing Serge Gnabry to volley a first-time cross into the path of 18-year-old Lennart Karl, who powered home from close range.
Both sides created openings in a frantic start to the second half. Merino twice went close, first heading straight at Neuer and later nodding wide from a Declan Rice corner, while Karl tested David Raya with a weak effort at the other end.
Neuer then denied Cristhian Mosquera at point-blank range amid a chaotic spell of pressure. Arsenal continued to push, with Rice forcing another smart save before Saka was unable to stab home the rebound.
The breakthrough finally arrived with 20 minutes left. Recently introduced Riccardo Calafiori fizzed a low cross across the six-yard box, and Madueke slid in ahead of Konrad Laimer to claim his first Arsenal goal and restore the hosts’ lead.
Bayern threatened again when a direct pass sent Gnabry through, but the former Arsenal man failed to connect cleanly with his acrobatic attempt.
The miss proved costly as Arsenal put the game beyond reach in the closing stages. Eze lofted a clever ball over the defence for Martinelli to chase, and while the winger still had half the pitch to cover, Neuer’s misjudged attempt to sweep up left him stranded, allowing Martinelli to roll the ball into an empty net and seal a statement win for Mikel Arteta’s men.
