Arsenal vs Bayern Munich: Explosive Rivalry Unleashed - Every Epic Showdown Exposed

Arsenal and Bayern Munich represent two clubs that, during a particular era in the Champions League, appeared to be inextricably linked.

Out of the 13 encounters between these teams, all taking place in Champions League competition, eight occurred within a mere four-year span. Arsenal found little joy in these matchups during that stretch, enduring several heavy defeats at the hands of the Bavarian powerhouse.

With the Gunners having returned to Europe's top tier and Bayern consistently remaining among the continent's finest, future encounters may become more frequent once again.

Below is a comprehensive examination of the head-to-head history between Arsenal and Bayern Munich.

Classic Encounters

Bayern Munich 0–2 Arsenal - March 2013

In the 2012–13 Champions League campaign, Arsenal and Bayern were paired together in the round of 16, marking their first encounter since the 2004–05 knockout stage. The opening leg took place in north London where Bayern secured a commanding 3–1 triumph, with those crucial away goals proving decisive for Arsenal's hopes.

While that was the eventual outcome, the Gunners managed to put up a much stronger fight at the Allianz Arena than most anticipated. They began brilliantly and a slick attacking sequence was converted by Olivier Giroud within three minutes. Laurent Koscielny's header in the 85th minute brought Arsenal's second goal, leaving them requiring just one more to advance.

Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be, though Arsenal had pushed one of Europe's premier teams to the edge. Bayern would ultimately claim the entire competition.

Arsenal 2–0 Bayern Munich - October 2015

Moving ahead to 2015, both clubs found themselves grouped together alongside Olympiacos and Dinamo Zagreb. The initial meeting between these European heavyweights occurred at the Emirates, where Arsenal again emerged victorious with a 2–0 result.

Each team wasted excellent opportunities before Giroud finally connected with a set-piece delivery to score in the 77th minute. During added time, Héctor Bellerín crafted a brilliant play to set up Mesut Özil, whose effort appeared to be denied by Manuel Neuer.

This occurred before goal-line technology implementation, but the assistant referee positioned near the goal made an excellent decision when he signaled to award the goal. Neuer had retrieved the ball from just beyond the line, and Pep Guardiola's team suffered defeat.

Bayern Munich 5–1 Arsenal - November 2015

Unfortunately, this is where things become quite painful for Arsenal supporters. Having defeated Bayern in their first group encounter, the Gunners likely believed they could achieve a positive result in Bavaria. This turned out to be a vastly different contest.

Robert Lewandowski nodded home the opener, followed by strikes from Thomas Müller, David Alaba and Arjen Robben that established a 4–0 advantage by the 55th minute. Giroud managed an acrobatic response for Arsenal, but Muller added another to seal a 5–1 scoreline.

It proved to be a dreadful evening for Arsenal, though they still managed to secure second place in the group before Barcelona comfortably eliminated them in the round of 16. Bayern advanced to the semifinals but were knocked out by Atlético Madrid on away goals.

Bayern Munich 5–1 Arsenal - February 2017

Another Champions League round of 16 meeting between Arsenal and Bayern arrived in 2017. This time, Arsenal sought retribution following that 5–1 thrashing at the Allianz Arena. They achieved no such revenge, not even remotely.

The first leg in Germany began in a far more balanced manner. Arsène Wenger remained at Arsenal's helm while Carlo Ancelotti now occupied the Bayern technical area. Robben opened the scoring after 11 minutes with his signature strike from the right flank, but Alexis Sánchez leveled before halftime. Arsenal were certainly competitive at that stage, but then suddenly they weren't.

Lewandowski and a Thiago Alcântara brace meant that by the 63rd minute, the score stood at 4–1 and the tie was essentially decided. Müller contributed the fifth goal late in the match. Truthfully, Bayern could have netted eight or nine that evening.

Arsenal 1–5 Bayern Munich - March 2017

Surely it couldn't occur again? Arsenal understood their quarterfinal hopes were over, requiring a 4–0 victory against Bayern Munich. The realistic objective was simply to win the match, prevent another embarrassment, and regroup for future campaigns.

That appeared to be their trajectory initially. Theo Walcott had given them a 1–0 halftime lead and as the second period commenced, another collapse seemed unlikely. Then Koscielny received a red card for a penalty area foul and Lewandowski converted from the spot.

This Bayern squad were ruthless and sensed vulnerability once more. Robben found the net, followed by Douglas Costa. Arturo Vidal casually added a fourth and fifth goal. Amid all this scoring, they squandered numerous other opportunities. 'Wenger Out' banners filled the Emirates as Arsenal had been outscored 10–2 across both legs.

Arsenal 2–2 Bayern Munich - April 2024

Arsenal experienced the unusual sensation of entering a Bayern encounter as favorites during the opening leg of their Champions League quarterfinal meeting in 2024. The Gunners were pursuing sweet vengeance after previous humiliations, with the Bundesliga champions struggling domestically.

Nevertheless, the Champions League typically inspires Bayern's finest performances, and they exceeded pre-match predictions to earn a 2–2 stalemate at the Emirates. Prospects appeared dim after Bukayo Saka had given the Gunners an early advantage, but goals from Serge Gnabry and former Tottenham striker Harry Kane put the visitors in front at the interval.

Bayern demonstrated the type of determination that had been absent for much of the season, but they couldn't maintain their lead for a crucial victory as Leandro Trossard fired a low shot into the bottom corner with 15 minutes remaining.

Both teams believed they deserved penalties in the second half, but their appeals were ignored.

Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich: Complete H2H Record

Leading Goalscorers in Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich Matches