On a very exciting Tuesday night at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal had to show their character to avoid defeat against Bayern Munich. After a 2-2 draw culminated in a controversial ending, Mikel Arteta said he was happy with how his team fought back.
In a stadium filled with excited Arsenal fans, the Gunners began really well and Bukayo Saka scored to put his side in the lead 12 minutes into the game. Ben White had a good opportunity to double the lead bigger before Bayern Munich sealed a comeback before halftime through former Gunner Serge Gnabry and a familiar foe in Harry Kane.
Arsenal managed to seal a 2-2 draw, courtesy of Leandro Trossard’s goal, and the result means the Gunners are still in a good position for the next game in Munich.
The tie remains 50-50, says Arteta
“It was a really intense match,” the manager said. “I think we started really well. We started to dominate it, to play in the opponents’ half and we generated some momentum, scored a really good goal with B. And there obviously was the moment in the match when Ben White is in front of Neuer to make it 2-0 and then the game and tie changes quickly. We didn’t [score] and then unfortunately today, we have given two very poor goals away and against a team with that individual quality, they’re going to punish you.”
“The team reacted really well,” Arteta added, “because the game can become very chaotic and you can start to lose some discipline and start to allow them to run, and in that moment, you can lose the tie.”
“The team never did that, we made some changes, we were dominant again and the subs again provided a great moment that poses the tie 50-50 and now we have to go to Munich.”
“We want more, and we’re going to have an amazing one in Munich, and now to recover. On Sunday we have a tough one against Villa and then we go again.”
Leandro Trossard, who scored the equalizer for Arsenal from the bench, admits there were a lot of regrets in the dressing room after the Gunners failed to take more of their chances.
“It’s a mixed feeling [in the dressing room] I would say. I think we started so well in the first 15 minutes; we could have been up by two or three goals. And then you can see their quality as well, especially up front, their individual qualities, they’re so strong, especially on the counter-attack, and that’s where they hurt us today.”
“At the end I think we’re happy obviously with the equaliser, it brings us back on equal terms and then we have to do it there.”
