Published: 21 October, 2015
by TOM FOOT at the Emirates Stadium

Champions League, Group F
ARSENAL 2, BAYERN MUNICH 0

ARSENAL fans are jubilant after the in-form Gunners vanquished Bayern Munich in a pulsating Champions League thriller at the Emirates.

Late goals from Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil, combined with crucial saves from Petr Cech, scalped one of Europe's top sides 2-0.

The win puts the club back in contention to qualify for the knock-out stages after two shock defeats.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said: "We had an absolute necessity to win the game and we did it. It was a top-level game. We have beaten a very strong team. We have had that team focus for a while now. It can strengthen our belief. But we need a result at Bayern."

The breakthrough came on 77 minutes when Giroud guided a free-kick cross past a flapping Manuel Neuer two minutes after being subbed on for Theo Walcott. 

Ozil then finished a surging 94th-minute run from the brilliant Hector Bellerin to send the Arsenal fans into rapture.

Wenger said: "I like Walcott and Giroud – I just have to use them in the right way. It is fantastic to see Bellerin having that desire to get on top of his opponent until the very last minute."

The Gunners had been restricted to hopeful long balls and chasing lost causes for the first 20 minutes. But Alexis Sanchez turned the match on its head with his powerful running and inspiring tracking back. The Chile dynamo picked out Walcott on the penalty spot on 25 minutes but the striker's point-blank header was forced off the line by Neuer. The rebound fell to Aaron Ramsey who shanked just wide. Bayern's clearance fell to the on-rushing Sanchez, whose deflected shot was thrashed high over the bar from 35 yards, foolishly, by Francis Coquelin. 

Walcott – who wheeled away from his header as if he had scored – repeatedly got into scoring positions in the first half, but did not look confident enough to beat Neuer. 

At the other end Cech kept Arsenal in the match with several top-class saves, most notably on 74 minutes, blocking a one-on-one with Robert Lewandowski and later from Thomas Muller.

Wenger said: "He kept us in the game and you can say the same for Neuer."

The Bayern fans staged a ticket price protest before the match with a large section of supporters leaving their seats and unveiling a banner, stating: "£64 tickets", returning en masse five minutes into the match. 

Bayern boss Pep Guardiola said: "We played with a lot of courage. We were there with a lot of personality, all I can say is congratulations to ourselves. I am only frustrated because I cannot play."

ARSENAL: Cech, Bellerin, Koscielny Mertesacker, Monreal, Coquelin, Ramsey (Chamberlain, 68), Cazorla, Ozil, Alexis (Gibbs, 82), Walcott (Giroud, 74).
Subs not used: Chambers, Arteta, Debuchy, Macey. 
Attendance: 60,048.