Arsenal and Bayern Munich Draw 2-2 in Pulsating First Leg
Subtlety, precision and poise to the fore in enthralling Emirates encounter
Gunners and Bavarians remain in the balance after an absorbing first leg
Arsenal and Bayern Munich traded blows in a pulsating 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night, leaving their Champions League quarter-final finely balanced ahead of next week's second leg in Munich.
Alexis Sanchez gave Arsenal a deserved lead in the 14th minute, but Bayern hit back through Robert Lewandowski just before half-time. The visitors then took the lead through Thiago Alcantara in the 56th minute, but a superb strike from Olivier Giroud leveled the scores again just six minutes later.
Both teams had chances to win it in the closing stages, but neither could find a way through. The result leaves the tie finely poised, with both teams knowing that a win in Munich next week will be enough to see them through to the semi-finals.
Arsenal were the better team in the first half and deservedly took the lead through Sanchez. The Chilean forward latched onto a pass from Mesut Ozil and fired a low shot past Manuel Neuer into the bottom corner.
Bayern Munich hit back just before half-time, however, when Lewandowski headed in a cross from David Alaba. The Polish striker was unmarked at the far post and had a simple task to nod the ball past Petr Cech.
The visitors took the lead for the first time in the 56th minute when Thiago Alcantara curled a superb shot into the top corner from the edge of the area. Arsenal responded well to going behind, however, and leveled the scores again just six minutes later through Giroud.
The French striker controlled a long ball from Ozil and then fired a fine low shot past Neuer into the bottom corner. Both teams had chances to win it in the closing stages, but neither could find a way through. Arsenal had the better of the chances, but Bayern Munich defended resolutely to earn a creditable draw.
The result leaves the tie finely poised, with both teams knowing that a win in Munich next week will be enough to see them through to the semi-finals.
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