Arsenal stretched their winning streak in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) league phase to nine matches with a superb 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich — handing the German champions their first defeat in any competition this season.

Bayern, carrying formidable form into the contest, started brightly. But Arsenal struck first, capitalising on a familiar strength: set pieces. In the 22nd minute, Bukayo Saka delivered a precise corner that found Jurriën Timber, whose looping header sailed over a stranded Manuel Neuer and nestled into the net.

Having fallen behind in each of their previous two matches without losing either, Bayern remained composed and crafted a stylish equaliser 10 minutes later. Joshua Kimmich fired a pinpoint pass into Serge Gnabry, who expertly cushioned a volley into the path of Lennart Karl. The young forward made no mistake, drilling past David Raya to score in back-to-back UCL starts.

The first half closed with chances at both ends, but after the interval the momentum swung firmly in Arsenal’s favour. Mikel Merino glanced a header just wide, before Cristhian Mosquera was denied from close range by a remarkable reflex save from Neuer. The Bayern keeper then pushed away a Declan Rice strike, with Saka only inches from turning in the rebound.

Those warnings proved prophetic. Moments after his introduction, Riccardo Calafiori surged down the left, overlapping Eberechi Eze before curling a perfect cross toward Noni Madueke, who dispatched a crisp first-time finish to put Arsenal back ahead. Bayern pushed forward desperately in search of another equaliser, but were punished on the counter. Gabriel Martinelli burst behind the defence, rounded the onrushing Neuer, and coolly rolled the ball into an empty net to seal the result.

That goal extinguished any hopes Bayern had of preserving their unbeaten run, and Arsenal saw out an emphatic victory. Mikel Arteta’s side are now 16 matches unbeaten across all competitions, and this performance reinforced their credentials as genuine contenders for a first-ever Champions League crown.

Despite the setback, Vincent Kompany’s Bayern can take solace in the fact that this marked their first defeat in 22 competitive away fixtures — but they were ultimately outclassed by the strongest opponent they have faced this season.