Comment: The best Arsenal side in decades couldn't beat Bayern Munich's worst
The best Arsenal side in 20 years couldn't beat Munich's worst of the Millennium; the Gunners remain a work in progress when it comes to the Champions League. An exciting one but an unfinished masterpiece nonetheless.
Sensational defending has been the bedrock of Arsenal's transformation from Premier League wannabees to this season's deserved leaders in the most exciting tussle for the trophy in years. Somehow it went missing at the Emirates last night.
There is no better centre-back pairing in the Premier League than Gabriel and William Saliba, with the latter's absence through injury at the business end of last season an huge reason why it all fell apart so quickly and so painfully.
Yet both combined to gift Bayern a goal each in a first half where the visitors looked nothing like the Bundesliga bunglers who have been left trailing by surprise champions-elect Bayer Leverkusen.
Gabriel was the first to err with a wayward pass in his own half, although David Raya had an odd cameo in the cock-up.
The goalkeeper came rushing out of his goal with a desire to join in the play but succeeded only in un-nerving the Brazilian. One turnover and two passes later the ball was in the net.
Saliba was the fall guy for Bayern's second with the mis-timed challenge that caught Leroy Sane in full flight in the box and allowed Harry Kane to continue his extraordinary goal-scoring record for Bayern this season and against Arsenal overall.
Saliba wasn't the only one to have a reckless lunge at ex-Manchester City man Sane either.
For the first time since January Arsenal were behind in a home game and had only themselves to blame.
Bukayo Saka was Arsenal's top performer on the night, not for the first time. The England winger finished superbly
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