Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany was ‘visibly angry and livid’ as he returned to the dressing room after Champions League defeat to Arsenal on Wednesday night.
It was a heavyweight clash at the Emirates between the Premier League leaders and the team top of the Bundesliga.
Jurrien Timber gave the Gunners the lead on 22 minutes, heading in a corner, but teenager Lennart Karl levelled up 10 minutes later and the scores were even at half-time.
Arsenal were superior after the break, though, with substitutes Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli completing a 3-1 win.
Martinelli’s goal came after a wild decision from Manuel Neuer to charge out of his penalty area and miss out to the Brazilian, who went on to score into an open goal.
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Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel was at the Emirates and by the dressing rooms as Kompany returned after the final whistle.
CBS Presenter Anita Nneka Jones said the Belgian was ‘visibly angry and livid as he came off.’
Schmeichel agreed, saying: ‘Oh my God! Literally the other side of where we are is the entrance to the dressing room. He was the first one here and he was so angry. I’ve never seen him like that!
‘I can understand that because is it a free-kick or not on the first goal? We don’t know, it can be discussed. The third goal Manuel Neuer is caught in no man’s land.
‘He will look at it as individual mistakes in a game he must have felt they had it under control. At 1-1 they felt like they had it under control.’
Metro at the Match: Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich
From the Emirates, Metro’s Ben Fleming breaks down the winners and losers from Arsenal’s statement victory over Bayern.
Jurrien Timber excels again
Gary Neville recently lauded Timber as one of the best full-backs in the world, and it’s easy to see why. Got Arsenal’s opener and was superb in all aspects of the game, it’s no coincidence that Michael Olise’s assist for the opening goal came after he drifted over he opposite flank.
Bukayo Saka singled out
The Arsenal forward provided the assist for Timber’s opener, but in open play, found himself man-marked to within an inch of his life by several Bayern players. A reflection of his talent, no doubt, but a problem he will have to learn to deal with on a more than regular basis.
Tricky night for Myles Lewis-Skelly
Lewis-Skelly will need to do far more than this if he is to force his way back ahead of Riccardo Calafiori at left-back. The 19-year-old struggled against Olise when he moved to the left flank and completed just seven of his 12 passes before making way in the 68th minute.
Arsenal match ratings: Raya 7, Timber 9, Saliba 7, Mosquera 7, Lewis-Skelly 6, Rice 8, Zubimendi 7, Eze 6, Saka 7, Trossard 6, Merino 7. Subs: Martinelli 7, Calafiori 7, White N/A, Odegaard N/A.
Lennart Karl, remember the name
Harry Kane had talked up the talents of 17-year-old Karl pre-match, and the German certainly delivered on the hype. Deployed in the No10 role, the teenager was a hive of energy and rounded off a superb Bayern move for their first goal.
Harry Kane quiet on Emirates return
Kane won’t be the last striker to enjoy a quiet night up against this Arsenal backline. At times, the England captain was most involved when he was forced to track back well into his side’s half to stop Saka getting on the ball.
A reminder that Arsenal are still yet to concede at home in the group/league phase of the Champions League since returning under Arteta in the 2023–24 season.
Bayern Munich match ratings: Neuer 5, Laimer 6, Tah 6, Upamecano 5, Stanisic 6, Kimmich 6, Pavlovic 6, Olise 7, Karl 7, Gnabry 5, Kane 5. Subs: Bischof 6, Jackson 5, Goretzka N/A, Guerreiro N/A, Kim N/A.
Kompany was calm and composed in giving his post-match interviews, accepting that Arsenal were a good side in impressive form.
However, he did say he is very keen to have another crack at Mikel Arteta’s team as soon as possible.
‘We played against a very good Arsenal team today so well done to them,’ said the Bayern boss on TNT Sports. ‘The first half we started the game well enough. They had a bit of momentum with the set-pieces and once we got past that moment, I felt we were growing in the first half. At half-time I felt that continuing that way would give us the win.
‘Then in the second half we didn’t come out at all. We let ourselves down a bit in the second half compared to what we’re used to, the standards and everything. I felt we exposed ourselves a little bit too easily for them to win the game on good basics.
‘They’ve got good quality. They’ve got a very, very strong bench. As and when they are making the subs they’re not really losing much or anything at all.
‘I’d love to play them again, as soon as possible. We’ll have to wait a little bit and hopefully in the latter stages with a good amount of learning from this game.’
Asked what he would do differently in another clash with Arsenal, he said: ‘First of all I’d have a home game as well in there.
‘No, credit to them, they’re a good team and will be a good team until the end of the season.
‘For us it’s been a good run, we’ve given ourselves the right to approach this game with a lot of belief. We’ll have to react, big teams react so that’s what we have to do on Saturday. I hope this game will help us in March. That’s important.’