๐ Share this article Arsenal Surrender 2-0 Lead in European Defeat to Bayern Munich Arsenal required a impressive display and positive result against a continental giant, but Renรฉe Slegersโs side surrendered their two-goal lead and the victory to Bayern Munich with little resistance, plunging their European campaign into tricky waters. Different Outcomes from Last Season In the previous campaign, a battling comeback from 2-1 down to a 3-2 victory over Bayern in their last group stage match avenged their opening 5-2 loss to the German opponents and kickstarted their remarkable journey to the final. It represented a pivotal moment in their season, demonstrating a resilience that carried them to a second Champions League title. Their breakdown here showed they are yet to recapture the fighting spirit that ensured success in May. Travelling Supporters in Germany More than 400 Arsenal fans had made the trip to Munich, many filing into the Hofbrรคuhaus before the game for their pre-match meet-up. They were placed in a section 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 made their presence felt in the stands below. Learning from Previous Performance The Arsenal goalkeeper had said her team had "given their all" in their hard-fought tie with Chelsea on Saturday. They were "deeply disappointed" by the outcome against the league leaders, with controversial officiating receiving much criticism of those frustrations. 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 executed their strategy and there was no repetition of that sluggish beginning. Strong Start for Arsenal They opened on the front foot. The England forward was especially lively and caused problems for the Bayern full-back their left-back and the central player Japanese international on the right as Arsenal's intense pressure proved effective. It was the forward's attempt that gave Arsenal the advantage in the fifth minute, the striker's effort strangely pushed away by the Bayern goalkeeper, the German shot-stopper. The midfielder was there to head it back over the goalkeeper and in. Extending the Lead Arsenal's next score arrived midway through the half. Bayern's insistence on building from defense had been risky and was exploited. The winger intercepted Stine Ballisager's stray pass and laid off to Stina Blackstenius, who poked it towards the Spanish midfielder on the edge of the box. The mercurial midfielder took a control to alleviate pressure from the defender before driving past Grohs. Second Half Turnaround The energy dropped a little in the final period. The Bayern coach turned to his bench to try to get his team back into the game: the former Chelsea forward Pernille Harder, whose hat-trick in October 2024 turned the match from 2-2 to 5-2, entered and Arianna Caruso and Alara Sehitler arrived soon after. The final substitute would cause problems first, sprinting forward and receiving from German winger before directing the ball past the Arsenal keeper. Total Comeback It was Bayern in the driving seat after the deficit was reduced, the hosts believing they could get a result from the game. The substitute produced, clipping a looping ball in from the penalty box to equalize. They did not just want to draw, though: they wanted it all, and shortly after they had the advantage, Glodis Viggosdottir turning in at the front post from Bรผhl's cross. This time it was a sluggish end that disappointed Arsenal and, with a single victory from three Champions League games, they have a major challenge ahead.