Arsenal suffered a devastating loss in their Champions League Group C opener against Bayern Munich. Despite taking an early lead through Mariona Caldentey, Jonas Eidevall’s team ultimately fell 4-2. Pernille Harder scored a 13-minute hat-trick for the German champions after both teams exchanged goals from Bayern’s Sydney Lohmann and Arsenal’s Laia Codina.
It might seem premature to consider this week as a pivotal moment in Arsenal’s season. Yet, there is no doubt that trouble is brewing in north London, and the significance of this fixture was clear before their upcoming WSL clash with Chelsea on Saturday. The manner of this defeat, particularly how Arsenal conceded the final two goals, will be particularly frustrating for Eidevall as the pressure continues to build.
An uninspiring draw against a struggling Everton side last Sunday has left the Gunners lagging domestically, and there is a high expectation for the team to advance in Europe this season after missing out last time. This task will not be easy, especially after this result, with Arsenal drawn in a challenging Group C. A trip to Munich was the first hurdle against a familiar opponent. Eidevall’s team had previously defeated the German champions in the quarter-finals two years ago, which may have bolstered their confidence before kick-off.
Eidevall made five changes to his starting lineup. Manuela Zinsberger, Leah Williamson, Caitlin Foord, Lia Wälti, and Stina Blackstenius returned, aiming to add directness to Arsenal’s attack and much-needed experience. In contrast, Bayern Munich featured familiar faces, with Harder and Georgia Stanway, both formerly of Chelsea and Manchester City, respectively. Bayern Munich entered the match in excellent form, having won their last seven matches in all competitions and losing only once in their last 17 home Champions League games.
Eidevall would have been pleased with his side’s start. The Arsenal manager had called for his team to “go full throttle,” and his players responded. They were the better team for most of the first half, pressing with intensity. Their efforts were rewarded after 30 minutes when Mariona deftly met Katie McCabe’s delivery to volley past Maria Luisa Grohs. However, their joy was short-lived as Bayern sensed that Arsenal were easing off. A sustained period of pressure, during which the visitors failed to clear their lines, resulted in the equaliser – Viggosdottir, the captain, headed in just before the break.
The hosts returned to the field with renewed vigor and aimed to exploit the faltering Arsenal back-line with their pace. This strategy paid off when Lohmann sprinted into space down the right before squeezing a shot past Zinsberger at the near post. Arsenal briefly rallied with Codina heading them level again, but it all fell apart at the other end. Harder, the Danish midfielder, took charge as she often does in her 50 Champions League appearances. She marked her 50th appearance in style with a 12-minute hat-trick that left the Arsenal players and bench stunned. Three deliveries into the box, three instances of ineffective defending that a player of Harder’s caliber will almost certainly exploit. She rose high to head in two corner deliveries before reacting quickest to her own parried shot to ensure Bayern’s comeback was complete.
It was a tough defeat for Arsenal. Eidevall now faces the daunting task of lifting his team ahead of a crucial London derby. Avoiding defeat is essential if they are to get their season back on track.
