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The London side required a impressive display and positive result against a continental giant, but the team relinquished their two-goal lead and all three points to Bayern Munich far too easily, plunging their Champions League defence into difficult waters.

Different Fortunes from Last Season

In the previous campaign, a battling comeback from 2-1 down to a 3-2 victory over Bayern in their final group game made up for their opening 5-2 loss to the German opponents and ignited their phenomenal run to the championship match. It represented a turning point in their season, showing a resilience that carried them to a second Champions League title. Their collapse here showed they are yet to recapture the spirit that led to victory in May.

Fan Support in Munich

More than 400 Arsenal fans had made the trip to Munich, many filing into the city's famous beer hall before the game for their pre-match meet-up. They were shoved into a corner of the middle tier at the Allianz Arena, but still made their voices heard, competing with the vocal local supporters of over 15,000 that brought the noise in the stands below.

Building on Previous Performance

The Arsenal goalkeeper had said her team had "given their all" in their 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Saturday. They were "devastated" by the result against the league leaders, with questionable refereeing decisions bearing the brunt of those disappointments.

The aim, though, was to take the energy of that strong performance after halftime to Germany with them. Arsenal had started slowly against Chelsea. In Munich they stuck to the plan and there was no repetition of that slow start.

Fast Beginning for Visitors

They opened on the front foot. The England forward was especially lively and caused problems for the Bayern defender their left-back and the midfielder Momoko Tanikawa on the right as Arsenal's intense pressure proved effective.

It was Mead's effort that ensured Arsenal took the lead in the fifth minute, the England forward's shot unusually parried by the Bayern goalkeeper, the German shot-stopper. Fox was there to head it back over the keeper and in.

Extending the Lead

Arsenal's second goal arrived in the 23rd minute. Bayern's determination to play out from the back had been risky and was capitalized on. Mead cut out Stine Ballisager's stray pass and passed to the Swedish striker, who directed it towards Mariona Caldentey on the edge of the box. The talented playmaker took a touch to create space from Tanikawa before lashing past Grohs.

Second Half Turnaround

The energy dropped a little in the second half. The Bayern coach made substitutions to try to bring his side into the game: the former Chelsea forward Danish international, whose hat-trick in October 2024 turned the match from 2-2 to 5-2, entered and Italian midfielder and Alara Sehitler arrived soon after. The final substitute would make Arsenal sweat first, sprinting forward and collecting from Klara Bühl before directing the ball past Van Domselaar.

Total Turnaround

It was Bayern in the driving seat after the gap narrowed, the home team sensing they could get a result from the game. Harder produced, clipping a cross in from the penalty box to level. They did not just want to take something, though: they wanted it all, and shortly after they had the advantage, Glodis Viggosdottir turning in at the near post from the winger's delivery. This time it was a sluggish end that let down Arsenal and, with one win from three Champions League games, they have a major challenge ahead.