Harry Kane returns to trouble Arsenal in the Champions League

Arsenal supporters felt they were denied a penalty in the final moments of their 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich, clinging to hope that VAR might intervene. Convinced of a missed opportunity, frustration boiled over as the penalty appeal was ignored.

Mikel Arteta and his team shared in the disappointment, with Bukayo Saka's reaction appearing particularly convincing—although it was later evident that he had attempted to deceive the referee by initiating contact with Manuel Neuer.

Despite the uproar, it was a clear case of simulation, highlighting the lingering sense of injustice at the Emirates. Nonetheless, it was acknowledged that an Arsenal win would have been undeserved.

Certainly, Bayern Munich had asserted their dominance after a tense start, deserving a victory, notably with Kingsley Coman hitting the post in the closing stages (the expected goals were 2.08 to 1.22 in favor of the visitors). Thomas Tuchel expressed frustration post-match, emphasizing that Bayern had a more compelling argument for a penalty of their own.

Winners and losers after an absorbing Champions League quarter-final first leg in north London

Winner: Harry Kane

There was never any uncertainty about Harry Kane finding the net, was there? Especially from the penalty spot. Despite Bayern facing challenging times, Kane has consistently shone throughout the season, epitomizing confidence.

His history against Arsenal speaks volumes, with his sixth goal at the Emirates setting a record for visiting players. Kane's composed penalty, his 39th goal of the season across all competitions and his seventh in the Champions League—more than anyone else—underscored his reliability.

Beyond his scoring prowess, Kane's overall performance was commendable. Despite Gabriel Magalhaes' fierce pressure, his hold-up play was exceptional, and his distribution was sublime. Despite enduring criticism from Arsenal due to Bayern's struggles this season, Kane may yet have the final say at the Allianz Arena in the forthcoming encounter.

Loser: Arsenal's 'world-class' centre-backs

Following Arsenal's impressive win against Brighton, Gabriel and William Saliba were being hailed as the top center-back pairing in global football. This assertion seemed plausible, especially given the Gunners' remarkably strong defensive record since the start of the year, largely credited to their effective defensive partnership.

However, when the Champions League anthem echoes, even the most seasoned players can falter under the spotlight. This was evident in the performance of Arsenal's defensive duo on Tuesday.

The sequence of errors leading to Serge Gnabry's early equalizer was initiated by Gabriel's nervy pass into midfield, and he failed to rectify his mistake promptly. Additionally, he was involved in the Leroy Sane penalty incident, though he wasn't the one who committed the foul—that responsibility fell to Saliba, whose challenge allowed Kane to put Bayern ahead 2-1 with only their second shot of the game.

Saliba's performance across both legs against Porto in the round of 16 was similarly underwhelming. It's important to note that these are his first high-pressure, one-off games for Arsenal, as he missed last year's run-in. Gabriel, on the other hand, doesn't have the same excuse.

Regardless, both players must overcome this apparent stage fright promptly, as they will face many more significant matches this season where they'll need to perform at their best.

Winner: Mikel Arteta's super-subs

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal has witnessed some memorable moments courtesy of substitutes in recent times. Last season, Reiss Nelson left a lasting impression with his remarkable performance against Bournemouth, while Kai Havertz's late winner against Brentford stands out as another significant contribution.

Leandro Trossard has also proven himself to be a reliable goal-scoring option off the bench, as demonstrated by his crucial strike against Brighton in the previous match. His impact was even more pronounced on Tuesday, revitalizing the atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium just 10 minutes after being brought on.

Gabriel Jesus played a pivotal role in setting up the equalizer, showcasing remarkable agility in the box before providing the assist to Trossard. The Belgian's finish was executed with great confidence, ensuring that Arsenal entered the second leg on level terms.

Moreover, Oleksandr Zinchenko made a notable impact with his composed possession play after replacing Jakub Kiwior at halftime. These performances from the substitutes offer Arteta plenty of food for thought as he prepares for Arsenal's upcoming trip to Bayern next week.

Loser: Jamal Musiala

Musiala worked hard, made some interceptions and drew fouls with his dribbling skills. But, maybe Gabriel Martinelli aside, he was arguably the weakest attacker on show, both from a defensive and offensive perspective. He was nowhere near as threatening as Saka, Sane or Gnabry, and didn't show anywhere near the same level of intensity in his pressing as Martin Odegaard, for example.

Musiala should get another chance to prove his undoubted world-class potential in the second leg, but with Kingsley Coman almost back up to speed after his recent injury lay-off, it would not be a surprise to see him benched, with the Frenchman put back on the right flank and Sane moved into the No.10 role. paraphras

Winner: Thomas Tuchel

Let's address a couple of key points straight away: Bayern Munich struggled early on, narrowly avoiding conceding a second goal when Ben White missed a golden opportunity, and they were bailed out by a mistake from Gabriel.

Additionally, Thomas Tuchel made a significant error by substituting Leroy Sane midway through the second half. Sane had been causing problems for Jakub Kiwior to the extent that Mikel Arteta replaced him at halftime. Sane was instrumental in winning the penalty that allowed Harry Kane to give Bayern the lead, with his penetrating dribble forcing Saliba into a foul.

However, despite their recent poor form, Bayern managed to secure an unexpected draw against Arsenal. Their performances and results in recent weeks have been subpar, including a defeat after squandering a two-goal lead against FC Heidenheim.

Thus, holding a team in such good form as Arsenal could be considered a minor victory for Tuchel as he prepares to depart Bayern. While it might have been somewhat fortuitous, Tuchel now has the opportunity to begin restoring his reputation as a top-tier coach by potentially eliminating the Premier League leaders from Europe next week.

This result may even prevent what seemed like an inevitable outcome before the game: Tuchel becoming the first Bayern manager since 2012 to end a season without a trophy.

Loser: Bukayo Saka

The evening presented a tale of two halves for Saka. In the opening 12 minutes, the Hale End academy graduate was riding high, showcasing his skill with a perfectly executed finish to give Arsenal their first Champions League knockout-stage lead since 2015. However, as the game progressed, his influence waned, although he did have a late opportunity to seal the win for his team.

When presented with a chance to put Arsenal ahead in the dying moments, Saka found himself in a one-on-one situation with Bayern goalkeeper Neuer. While his initial move was spot-on, smoothly evading Neuer, his decision to attempt to draw a penalty instead of taking a shot at the open goal raised eyebrows.

The intention behind Saka's actions can be difficult to ascertain definitively given the pace of top-level football. However, it's hard to argue against the suggestion that he was seeking a penalty in a rather cynical manner.

Opting to dangle his leg instead of going for the straightforward shot at the unguarded goal remains a puzzling decision. If Arsenal were to ultimately exit the tie by a single goal, Saka's choice in that critical moment could certainly haunt him. Despite his impressive goal earlier in the match, it's clear that he missed an opportunity to potentially secure another crucial goal for his team.