Mikel Arteta hailed Arsenal’s 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich as a defining moment in their Champions League campaign, insisting his side defeated “the best team in Europe.”
The Premier League leaders delivered a commanding performance at the Emirates to maintain their flawless record in the competition.
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Arsenal struck first through Jurrien Timber, who rose highest to head home and ignite a raucous North London crowd.
Bayern hit back before the break, with 17-year-old Lennart Karl scoring his side’s equaliser and ending Arsenal’s run of clean sheets in Europe this season.
With Harry Kane misfiring on his return to the Emirates, Bayern struggled to create their usual rhythm. The England captain failed to register a single shot as Arsenal’s defence kept him firmly quiet.
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Arsenal reclaimed control in the second half as Noni Madueke marked his return from a knee injury with a superb finish—his first goal for the club.
Moments later, Gabriel Martinelli capitalised on a rare Manuel Neuer error to make it 3-1 and secure Arsenal’s fifth win from five group-stage matches.
Arteta praised his players’ composure and intensity, emphasising the significance of the performance despite the hectic fixture schedule.
“Individually, we were immense,” he said. “The energy, the quality, the consistency—we have to keep that level.”
Bayern boss Vincent Kompany admitted Arsenal were deserved winners, conceding his side “lost too many duels” after the break, reports Newsshoper
Kane echoed the sentiment, noting Bayern “didn’t match Arsenal’s intensity” in the second half but urged calm after their first defeat of the season.
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