The clash between Arsenal and Bayern Munich on the Champions League stage has been lopsided, with the latter utterly dominant with eight victories in 14 meetings so far. However, it has not evaded drama each time this rivalry has played out in the competition's history. A big chunk of the theatrics and unforgettable face-off has happened in Arsenal’s home stadiuṁ, the Emirates. These clashes have produced a sheer number of goals, eye-catching victories and a tussle to cherish. Even though a difference in the quality has been obvious, this fixture played in London has never failed to entertain one way or the other.
Here are all the Arsenal vs Bayern Munich clashes played at Emirates Stadium in the Champions League history:
Arsenal 1-3 Bayern Munich - 2012/13 Round of 16 1st Leg
The first meeting between Arsenal and Bayern Munich at the Emirates Stadium in the 2012-13 season was unpleasant for the Gunners, as they were welcoming a side that would go on to win the Champions League, managed by Jupp Heynckes. Arsène Wenger’s team featured star names like Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla, Theo Walcott, and Aaron Ramsey, but the Bavarians were starting an era of dominance with players who would resonate with the sport. Two of them combined for the visitor’s opening goal, Bayern’s eternal legend Thomas Müller flinging a cross for one of the best midfielders in modern football, Toni Kroos, to dispatch as early as the seventh minute despite a bright start from Arsenal in this Round of 16 first leg clash.
From then on, the German giants took complete control and were two to the good midway through the opening period when Müller turned scorer from provider to bundle in the rebound from Wojciech Szczęsny’s save of Daniel Van Buyten's header. The home side seemed to have changed the tide of the game when Bayern’s former player Lukas Podolski headed in unmarked from a corner just five minutes into the second half. However, the luck was not on them as with 13 minutes left on the clock, Mario Mandzukic added the third for his side after he failed to do so earlier in the game with Philip Lahm’s centre looped in off the Croatian. That goal became crucial in the tie as Arsenal went on to win the second 2-0 at Munich, but it was not enough, as despite the aggregate score being equal, Bayern progressed to the quarterfinals courtesy of scoring more away goals.
Arsenal 0-2 Bayern Munich - 2013/14 Round of 16 1st Leg
Frustration would carry on for Arsenal in the second meeting of this fixture at the Emirates when they faced Bayern in the first leg of the Round of 16 stage again a season later. Except, this affair was much more eventful. Like the previous meeting, the Gunners had more of the joy in the opening joy in the early exchanges with Yaya Sanogo, a surprise selection ahead of Olivier Giroud, pulling out a save from Neuer. The best opportunity of the game for the host came within the first eight minutes, with Mesut Ozil clipped inside the box, giving him the chance to put his side into the lead. However, his Germany teammate guessed the right way, denying the playmaker from the spot. Motivated by it, the holders were able to shift the momentum to their favour and Arsenal were left scrambling again.
Arjen Robben raced onto the opposition’s box, latching onto a chip pass from Kroos, leading to Wojciech Szczęsny fouling him and then receiving his marching orders. However, Bayern too failed to take advantage of the resulting spot-kick with David Alaba hitting the post just minutes before half-time. Despite that, the visitors remained confident and broke the deadlock just five minutes into the second half. Even though substitute keeper Łukasz Fabiański denied Robben, he could do nothing when Kroos came back to haunt the Gunners after curling a first-time effort in the top corner. Although Fabiański managed to keep his side in the game as Bayern piled up the pressure, Arsenal were destined to face the same fate as last time when Müller nodded in Lahm's cross to finish the battle in the 88th minute, with Kroos striking the upright, only saving further embarrassment.
Arsenal 2-0 Bayern Munich - 2015/16 Group Stage MD 3
However, Arsenal would finally get their revenge in 2015 in the first and only win at the Emirates so far in this fixture. It was a group stage encounter this time, with the Gunners putting away their chances this time. Bayern Munich had made the venue a happy hunting ground and was looking for a third win here when they tested Petr Cech earlier on, with the veteran keeper denying Thiago Alcantara from close range. Arsenal’s number one then palmed away a long drive from Arturo Vidal as the Bavarians held the early pressure. The home side did their bit to test Neuer at the other end as he pulled off an outstanding save from Theo Walcott’s free header. Both keepers pulled out more saves in an entertaining first half with no goals scored.
Bayern continued to mount the pressure with their possession dominance, but Arsenal maintained their discipline and provided strong resistance. Their solidity proved to be fruitful at the end. After Cech had made another decisive save from Robert Lewandowski cleared through on goal, hero substitute Oliver Giroud took advantage of a mix-up in Bayern’s defence to head in before Nueur could get his perches on in the 77th minute. Any attempt at a comeback from the German juggernauts was swept aside when Ozil made amends for his penalty miss in the earlier fixture by scoring the sealer with mere minutes to play to the sheer joy of the home fans.
Arsenal 1-5 Bayern Munich - 2016/17 Round of 16 2nd Leg
However, here’s where Arsenal’s joy would end, as they would suffer three straight devastating losses in this fixture with the same scoreline, which still haunts them. The Gunners suffered a crunching 5-1 defeat in the reverse clash at the Allianz Arena a season before the 2016-17 Round of 16 meetup, yet faced the same humiliation on this trip for the first leg. So, Wenger’s side were left to do the unthinkable of overturning a 5-1 deficit back at Emirates, which no side has done before in the competition’s history. Arsenal, though, started positively and after Giroud headed just wide, Walcott smashed in for a near post inside 20 minutes to get the home fans on their feet.
However, it was a false flag and the side’s defence wilted again once Bayern’s incredible attack shone again. Lewandowski was fouled by Laurent Koscielny with a tackle on his shoulder just five minutes into the second half, which led to the Frenchman being sent off for denying a clear scoring opportunity. The Polish striker coolly slotted home from the spot with the 10-man down Arsenal having no reply to the scoring spree the Bavarians unleashed. The Gunners’ nemesis in the first leg, Robben, now scored in London to put Bayern ahead in the game before Douglas Costa curled in the third 10 minutes later. Arturo Vidal then fired the last bullets with a five-minute brace to repeat the 5-1 victory in the second leg and secure a whopping 10-2 aggregate victory to advance into the quarterfinal stage.
Arsenal 2-2 Bayern Munich - 2023/24 Quarter-finals 1st Leg
There was a six-year gap before the duo crossed paths in the Champions League once again, with a lot of things changing in both dugouts. Arsenal changed into Premier League title challengers again under Mikel Arteta and were also gunning for European supremacy, while Bayern Munich was going through a struggling period under Thomas Tuchel. Unlike the previous meetings, the North Londoners entered this fixture in the home leg of the quarter-final stage in the 2023/24 season as the favourites. However, Bayern showed they are still a force to be reckoned with as they pulled another impressive fight at the Emirates, giving a thriller.
It was Arsenal that took the lead with Bukayo Saka scoring a delightful opener inside just 12 minutes, finding the lower corner past Neuer. However, the visitors’ press led them to give away the equaliser with Serge Gnabry scoring against his former employer shortly after. Arteta’s side seemed to have thrown it away when William Saliba knocked Leroy Sane down into the box, leading to a penalty, which was converted by none other than Harry Kane, once again scoring against Arsenal wearing a different shirt this time, on the half-hour mark. Tuchel’s side seemed to have piled more misery in this fixture for the Gunners, but Leonardo Trossard ensured it won’t be this time as he fired in the equaliser in the 76th minute to end the first leg all square.
