🔗 Share this article The Gunners Surrender 2-0 Lead in European Loss to German Giants Arsenal required a impressive display and positive result against a European powerhouse, but Renée Slegers’s side relinquished their 2-0 advantage and the victory to Bayern Munich far too easily, plunging their European campaign into difficult waters. Different Fortunes from Last Season Last season, a battling comeback from 2-1 down to a narrow win over Bayern in their last group stage match made up for their opening 5-2 loss to the Bavarian side and ignited their phenomenal run to the championship match. It marked a turning point in their season, showing a mental toughness that carried them to a second Champions League title. Their collapse here demonstrated they are yet to recapture the fighting spirit that ensured success in May. Fan Support in Munich Over four hundred Arsenal fans had made the trip to Munich, many gathering at the city's famous beer hall before the game for their traditional gathering. They were shoved into a section of the upper level at the Allianz Arena, but still created an atmosphere, battling against the impressive home crowd of over 15,000 that made their presence felt in the lower tier. Learning from Previous Performance The Arsenal goalkeeper had stated her team had "showed everything we had" in their 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Saturday. They were "devastated" by the outcome against the WSL champions, with questionable refereeing decisions bearing the brunt of those disappointments. The goal, though, was to channel the momentum of that strong performance after halftime to Germany with them. Arsenal had started slowly against Chelsea. In Munich they stuck to the plan and there was no repeat of that sluggish beginning. Fast Beginning for Visitors They opened on the front foot. Beth Mead was especially lively and created difficulties for the Bayern defender their left-back and the central player Momoko Tanikawa 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, Maria Luisa Grohs. Fox was there to head it back over the keeper and in. Doubling the Advantage Arsenal's second goal arrived midway through the half. Bayern's determination to play out from the back had been risky and was capitalized on. The winger cut out the defender's wayward ball and passed to Stina Blackstenius, who poked it towards Mariona Caldentey on the edge of the box. The talented playmaker took a touch to alleviate pressure from the defender before driving past the goalkeeper. After Break Collapse The intensity lessened a little in the final period. José Barcala turned to his bench to try to bring his side into the game: the former Chelsea forward Danish international, whose hat-trick in October 2024 took the game from 2-2 to 5-2, came on and Arianna Caruso and Alara Sehitler followed shortly. The final substitute would cause problems first, sprinting forward and collecting from German winger before directing the ball past Van Domselaar. Complete Turnaround It was Bayern in the driving seat after the gap narrowed, the hosts believing they could take something from the game. Harder delivered, clipping a looping ball in from the penalty box to equalize. They did not just want to take something, though: they wanted it all, and shortly after they had the lead, Glodis Viggosdottir turning in at the front post from Bühl's cross. This time it was a sluggish end that let down Arsenal and, with one win from their European matches, they have a big job ahead.