Rice's Late Strike Earns Arsenal 2-2 Draw at Bayern as Saka Goes Off Injured
Declan Rice scored an 82nd-minute equaliser as Arsenal drew 2-2 with Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday, October 21, in matchday 3 of the Champions League. The match was played at a frantic pace, but it was overshadowed by an early injury to Bukayo Saka.
Saka was forced off after just nine minutes with a non-contact injury. He had taken part in Arsenal's first chance, when Kai Havertz pulled the ball back to him, and he was injured as he attempted to play a pass. Arsenal later confirmed it as a quad injury, and manager Mikel Arteta said the club was concerned. There is no confirmed timeline for his return.
Arsenal still took the lead. Eberechi Eze, who replaced Saka, tucked the ball home in the box from Martin Ødegaard's measured pass in the 25th minute. Bayern equalised in the 35th minute. Alphonso Davies ran onto a through ball from Harry Kane and slotted it past David Raya, who had rushed off his line.
Bayern went in front just past the hour mark. Kane scored from the penalty spot, and it was his goal in a tenth consecutive Champions League match. Only Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored in 11 in a row, has had a longer scoring run in the competition.
Arsenal kept pressing and came close, as Bruno Guimarães headed a Rice corner towards goal but Manuel Neuer clawed it away from the line. The equaliser came in the 82nd minute. Viktor Gyökeres laid the ball off to Rice, who drove into the box and fired a low shot into the far corner. Jurriën Timber almost won it late on, but his swerving shot was tipped over.
Bayern were without Joshua Kimmich, who missed the game after a death in his family.
Arsenal remain unbeaten in this season's Champions League, and they have lost only one of their last 14 away games in the competition. The draw leaves Arsenal seventh in the table with seven points, and Bayern 14th with five points.