Skip to content

Arsenal beat Bayern on penalties: Five talking points from Shanghai

SHANGHAI, CHINA - JULY 19:  Emiliano Martinez and Arsenal celebrates after their win in the 2017 International Champions Cup game against Bayern Munich

Alex Iwobi equalised in stoppage-time before Arsenal beat Bayern Munich on penalties following their 1-1 draw in Shanghai on Wednesday.

Robert Lewandowski's early penalty had looked to have given the German champions the victory but after Iwobi's late header, substitute goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez pulled off the save from Bernat that gave the Gunners a 3-2 shootout win.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Alex Iwobi says Alexandre Lacazette has settled in well at Arsenal

Here, we pick out five talking points from the match...

Ozil works best behind Lacazette

Mesut Ozil was forced out wide throughout much of the first half, and though Arsenal got him on the ball regularly via their bombing full-backs in the 3-4-3 set-up, he was of little help off the ball.

Many of Alexandre Lacazette's goals for Lyon came from running off the shoulder of the last defender, and on the rare occasions on Wednesday when Ozil was able to pick up the ball 10 to 15 yards behind the Frenchman, the results were there for all to see.

SHANGHAI, CHINA - JULY 19:  Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal FC reacts during the 2017 International Champions Cup football match between FC Bayern and Arsen
Image: Alexandre Lacazette's link up with Mesut Ozil showed some promise

Arsenal's best chance of the game, bar the equaliser, came from Ozil's instinctive straight pass into Lacazette's path, putting him through one-on-one with Tom Starke before the Bayern goalkeeper pulled off a fine save.

Also See:

If Ozil can regularly find himself in a chasm between opposition defence and midfield, Lacazette will no doubt benefit this season.

Robben and Ribery difficult to replace

Bayern's "Robbery" will need replacing in the coming years as the pair reach their mid-30s, and Franck Ribery showed again on Wednesday just how difficult a task that will be.

of Bayern Muenchen battles for the ball with of Arsenal during the Audi Football Summit 2017 match between Bayern Muenchen an
Image: Franck Ribery caused problems for Arsenal on the left wing for Bayern

The Frenchman was superb in Shanghai, giving Arsenal a torrid time in the first half as most of Bayern's danger came down the left flank.

Both he and Arjen Robben have been a huge part of Bayern's style and success over the best part of a decade, and Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman, both viewed as long-term replacements for the tricky wingers, have some big (and rapid) shoes to fill.

Flexible at the back?

Arsenal's back three in the first half simply didn't work. Yes, they were able to get the ball from front to back at speed, using the pace of Danny Welbeck and Ainsley Maitland-Niles to their advantage, but they were caught out easily by Bayern's wide players.

Arsenal squeeze past Bayern
Arsenal squeeze past Bayern

Alex Iwobi's last-gasp header set Arsenal up for a 3-2 penalty shoot-out victory over Bayern Munich following a 1-1 draw in their opening International Champions Cup clash on Wednesday.

Maitland-Niles and Krystian Bielik - right-wing-back and right-centre-back respectively - were miles apart too often in the first half, allowing Ribery acres of space at the byline on several occasions.

Wenger changed it up at half-time, going to a back four, and though Bayern took their foot off the gas, Arsenal restricted the German champions to only a few half chances. A more stubborn Wenger would have been tasting defeat 45 minutes later.

Kolasinac sub not what it seems

Left-back Sead Kolasinac was given a tough time by Bayern's wingers in the first half, but the reason for his omission by Arsene Wenger just before the break did not seem tactical.

SHANGHAI, CHINA - JULY 19:  Sead Kolasinac of Arsenal FC of Arsenal FC competes for the ball with Rafinha of FC Bayern during the 2017 International Champi
Image: Sead Kolasinac endured a difficult game before being withdrawn

The summer signing from Schalke, who was nowhere to be seen as a quick free-kick ended up with James Rodriguez in acres of space at the far post, was replaced by Reiss Nelson just moments after, cue claims on social media that Wenger was giving him a kick up the backside.

However, Kolasinac was in fact seen keeling over late in the first half with what looked like illness, and after team-mate Per Mertesacker also pulled out just before kick-off with sickness, that seems to be the 24-year-old's most likely excuse.

Cech is still world class

With Bayern peppering the Arsenal goal with six shots on target in the first half, it comes as no surprise who the Gunners' man of the match was in Shanghai.

Arsenal head coach Arsene Wenger reacts during the International Champions Cup football match between Bayern Munich and Arsenal in Shanghai on July 19, 201
Image: Arsene Wenger tried out a variety of different systems for Arsenal

Petr Cech saved brilliantly from Rodriguez on two occasions, one a world-class, brave stop on the brink of half time as Bayern looked like they would run away with the game.

He was dominant from aerial balls, despite the height of the Germans in the box, and though Emiliano Martinez's heroics in the shoot-out ultimately gave Arsenal victory, they would have been down and out without the former Chelsea stopper.

Around Sky